Remarkable recovery as Boro squeeze home

CRIES of 'Littleborough, Littleborough na, na, na, na, na' rang round Hare Hill on Sunday as a healthy crowd witnessed a quite remarkable comeback from The Boys from the Boro as they beat Ramsbottom by two runs.

- BRENDAN MISKELLA & RICHARD PARTINGTON

It was remarkable because the visitors had put on 132 for the first wicket in good time in pursuit of the home side's first innings score of 203/9.

But when Matty Hernon stumped Jonny Dack off the last ball needing three to win, the home side’s victory was complete.

Ramsbottom won the toss and inserted the home side and they were soon in trouble as they slumped to 14/3.

Both Zac Perren and Dan Stevens fell to mis-timed drives and were both caught at mid off before Tom Pye was castled by Matt Burdaky and the Boro were well under the cosh.

Ryan Miskella joined his professional, Bryce Parsons, and started to rebuild the innings.

They brought the 50 up in the 17th over and took the score to 67 off 20 overs.

At half way, Littleborough were on 87 with Parsons in glorious form on 55 and Miskella on 22 before the latter was castled by Shaun von Berg for 25 with the score on 97, having put on 83 with the home professional.

Matt Hernon joined Parsons and was immediately positive, taking the score to 138 with 10 left, Parsons on 80 and Hernon on 20.

The fifth wicket fell on 169 as Hernon was bowled by Von Berg with one that kept low.

Parsons then brought up his maiden century for the club but ran out Lewis Willman in doing so before he chopped on for a superb 102 off 107 balls with 12 boundaries.

The innings ended on 203/9, a decent effort from 14/3.

Von Berg was the pick of the bowlers finishing with 3/40 off his 15 overs.

Ramsbottom set off like a train as all Littleborough’s seamers failed to show any control as they coasted to 132 before JJ Fielding fell for an excellent 69 to an even more excellent catch from Anthony McGlade to mark the start of the comeback.

That became 134/2 as Ben Pearson was caught by Miskella off Wilkman.

A very short rainbreak reduced the target to 195 off 48 overs.