CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

Andrew Robinson took no chances in securing Padiham's nail-biting win over Whalley which keeps the defending champions in the thick of the Jennings Ribblesdale League title race.

Padiham could have claimed the extra over after Whalley collapsed from 149-3 to 162 all out with seven balls of their innings to go.

But Robinson wasn't aware of the extra time available and hit Jason Smith for two sixes, including one off the last ball, in the 45th over, to seal a two-wicket triumph.

``We could have claimed an extra over after bowling them out but I didn't know that at the time and the umpires didn't mention it.

``It didn't cross my mind. I was just thinking about trying to get the runs,'' said the wicketkeeper, who came in at number 10 with 23 still needed for victory.

``He had bowled pretty tight and I had to block three, but he just tried to get the last one right up there and I managed to connect.

``It's just one of those things. It didn't come off against Ribblesdale Wanderers in the cup when we were chasing but it did here.''

Shaun Rashid also played his part by hitting a six in the previous over from David O'Neill as Padiham scrambled 23 off the 44th and 45th overs.

The home side never gave up hope and in Rashid and Robinson had a proven partnership which earlier this season posted an unbroken 114-run ninth-wicket stand against Earby in the Ramsbottom Cup.

``We seem to bat well together,'' admitted Robinson. ``You have always got a chance on a small ground like Padiham. When we tied with Oswaldtwistle we were chasing something like 100 in 10 overs.''

Padiham's victory kept them third in the table, three points behind leaders Cherry Tree.

``It was a game we had to win,'' Robinson admitted.

``We said before the game that we needed to pick up bonus points and the only way to do that is to put them in. The week before against Blackburn Northern we struggled for 14 overs to get the last wicket and we didn't get it.

``It's easy to shut up shop so the only way to do it is probably to send them in.''

The move almost backfired as Whalley, led by 80 from professional Graham Knowles, looked set to post a massive score until Rashid struck with the ball to precipitate the collapse and finish with 6-42, his last four wickets coming without conceding a run.

And Robinson believes the result keeps the Arbories club, who visit Edenfield on Saturday and then Ormskirk in the quarter-finals of the Lancashire Cup on Sunday, firmly in the hunt for a league and cup double.

``We've still got to play both Ribblesdale Wanderers and Cherry Tree at Padiham, so I think we've got to have a good chance,'' he added.