EIGHT wickets from Padiham professional Chris Holt condemned Earby to defeat in one of only two Houldsworth Solicitors Ribblesdale Cricket League games to be completed on Saturday.
Sterling work from the groundstaff at the Applegarth enabled a 40-over game on, and both teams showed a great attitude, accepting it was wet but wanting to play cricket.
Earby won the toss and put Padiham in, and it looked a good decision after nine overs when Martin Kegg and Jake Hargreaves had reduced Padiham to 19-3.
Holt stopped the rot with 47 off 67 balls, Anthony Hall chipped in with 31 at number seven, and Nesir Mehmood crashed 55 not out off 37 balls to reach a highly respectable 190-9.
Professional Ali Azmat suggested it was a seamers’ day, the ball being so wet, Martin Kegg took 2-29, Danny Kegg 2-72 off 14, Martin Windle 2-36, and Hargreaves 1-16 off 6.
Earby’s reply started similar to Padiham’s, and after six overs they were 9-2.
Azmat batted in a controlled manner to his 50 then opened up and hit three big sixes until he was caught on 72 off Holt.
Danny Kegg again batted steadily with him for 19 but fell the ball after Azmat at 113-5.
After that no-one got to terms with Holt’s slow left arm, and he finished off the job, ending with 8-57, with Earby all out 131 after some rash shots from the tail, four wasted overs and no batting points.
Tomorrow Earby are at Settle.
Leaders Barnoldswick’s game at Oswaldtwistle was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Barnoldswick’s second team game against Burnley Belvedere did start, before being washed out.
Tomorrow Barnoldswick are at Ribblesdale Wanderers, and on Sunday they are in Ramsbottom Cup action at home to holders Ribblesdale Wanderers.