COLNE came up with a win and a defeat in two very contrasting matches at the weekend.
On Sunday at Haslingden, Colne lost the toss and were asked to field.
Haslingden made a decent start on a green wicket with uneven bounce, and with the help of 44 from Mohsin Imtiaz they reached 124 before the fifth wicket fell.
Then Khurrum Nazir (pictured) and professional Shadley van Shalkwyk skittled the rest for a total of 152 all out.
The Colne innings started disastrously, collapsing to 47-6, with Lewis Rimmer and Justin Nutter the only batsmen in double figures. Saleem Quereshi started the turnaround with a stylish innings of 27, scoring the majority of the runs in a 42-run partnership with Sam Tillotson.
Quereshi batted and sensibly, not trying to do the impossible, but playing shots when it was safe to do so.
He was unlucky to be caught off his first risky shot, when Imtiaz took a one-handed running catch on the boundary edge.
Tillotson was into his stride by this stage, and was joined by Matthew Walker, who is never reluctant to put bat to ball.
Five runs an over were needed, but the pair scored at the required rate in an 8th wicket stand of 61.
Haslingden professional Harry Boam, the bowler who suffered most, finally bowled Tillotson for 36 with eight balls left and three runs needed.
Matthew Constable came in and scored a single, but two were needed from the last over and Walker (30 not out) at the wrong end.
The first two balls both hit Constable’s pads, to loud appeals, the second of which was successful
Last man David Wallbank came out. His first ball, he missed; the second, he hit firmly but it bounced just in front of mid-on; the third, he hit a high and mighty six onto the path and Colne had won with a ball to spare.
Even watching from the car on a cold Sunday evening, it was entertainment at its best!
The Lowerhouse game on Bank Holiday Monday was a disappointment in contrast.
It was the only league game to start on time after the previous night’s rain, which is a tribute both to the state of the wicket and the work of the groundstaff.
But Colne were bowled out for only 78 and Lowerhouse won easily, with the only highlight being Tillotson’s smart stumping of Whitehead from a leg side wide.
This weekend there are two games on the Horsfield.
The thirds play at home to Church, a rearranged game; and on Sunday both second XI and first XI play Burnley, the seconds at home, the firsts away.