As the 2nd XI started the season the main aim was to ensure that we finished high enough in the league to ensure that we would start 2025 in the middle one of the proposed three 2nd XI divisions for next season and maybe if luck was with us go one better than our defeat in the 2023 cup final.
As with the 1stXI the start of the season was delayed by two weeks and so it was to be the first week in May before we finally took to the field but, unlike the 1stXI they got off to an absolute flier with 4 wins out of five during the month. The opening game against Barrowford was a tense affair that saw us set a revised target of 101 in 33 overs and squeeze home with 2 balls and 2 wickets to spare thanks to a 9th wicket stand of 20 between Jake and Daz. Earlier Harry had taken 4/16 to restrict them to 114. Next day we entertained Chatburn in the 1st round of the cup and progressed by a very comforatble 143 runs. Amit (66) & Nikhil (59) set up a total of 197-6 then OBJ took 4/17 in a reply of just 54. The following week saw the only defeat of the month as we went down by a mere 2 runs in the final over v Burnley Belvedere. With 2 overs to go we had two wickets in hand and 3 runs to get but unfortunatley Kish was out for 25 off the first ball of the 44th, and after OBJ had played out the rest of the over Daz was unfortunately caught off the first ball of the last. After a week off, the month ended with a league & cup double header against Eagley. Saturday's league game saw an emphatic 10 wicket as Ste (50*) & Jimmy (35*) knocked off the target with ease. Earlier Harry had taken 5/39 including a hat trick to bowl them out for just 98. Sunday's cup tie followed a similar pattern as Eagley were bowled out for just 88 this time with Harry adding another 4 wickets and then Jake's rapid 29 seeing us to the win.
Jake's form continued in June as his unbeaten 50 steered us to a six wicket win over Blackrod after Nick's 3/2 had helped bowl them out for 101. The winning run came to a halt though in the next game as we failed to chase down Brinscall's total of 134 finishing some 25 runs short despite Aaron B making a fine 42 after Junaid had taken 5/36 in the Brinscall innings. A rained off game against Kearsley was followed by defeat in the Ramsbottom Cup Quarter Final as high flying Premier League side Read edged home by 2 wickets in an exciting finish in the last over. Nikhil helped us reach 164 with a patient knock of 47 before an unbeaten 51 from the experienced Rushton saw Read to the win despite OBJ taking 3/29. Next up were Tonge and thanks to a fine all round performance from Kish (27 & 5/23) we got back to winning ways with a 3 wicket win. June's final game saw a bit of a drubbing as Baxenden comfortably chased down a DLS target with 9 wickets in hand.
July was to be a good month which saw us win 3 games out of 4 with our only defeat coming at the hands of eventual champions Padiham in a thrilling game by just 2 runs. First up we entertained Whalley and after OBJ had taken 3/27 in a total of 142, Jimmy led his side home with a fine 51. Next up were Padiham who made a useful 169-6 in their allotted overs (Nikhil 3/49) but despite 35 from Jimmy and a valiant last wicket stand Darren was run out going for the run which would have tied the scores. Feniscowles were then comfortably beaten when with us 103-1 chasing 120 we were way ahead on DLS when the rain came. Aaron B was leading the chase on 42 when the game ended. The last game of the month saw a good win at Atherton where Jimmy once again led from the front with his unbeaten 71 ensuring a six wicket win after the home side were restricted to 136-9 by Arron P's 4/45.
August started well as Oswaldtwistle Immanuel were swept away by 105 runs. Jake top scored with 33 as we were all out for 153 before Arron P (4/6) and Daz (4/22) bowled them out for 48 in reply. A week later Earby visited Chew Moor and after another 4 wickets for Daz had helped restrict them to 148, an unbeaten 53 from Ste took us to a 7 wicket win. The following week was a bittersweet one for Daz whose career best 7/23 helped bowl Chatburn out for just 74, only for our batting to disintegrate in reply with a miserable 34 all out. The final game of the month saw another heartbreakingly close defeat as Barnoldswick edged us out by 8 runs. Despite Arron P taking 3/27 Barlick managed to make 173 which proved just enough for the win. In reply Ste made 44 and Aaron B 33 but it wasn't quite enough.
Just the two games were left in September and the first of those saw a comprehensive nine wicket win over Foulridge. Daz continued his fine finish to the season taking 6/12 as our visitors managed a mere 44. Aaron B then added a quickfire unbeaten 30 to finish off the win. The season finale against Walkden ended in defeat as the vistors picked up a 46 run win despite Kish taking 4/24 and Tommy G an unbeaten 30.
In the end then it was mission accomplished as the 2nd team finished in 4th place in the league and had a decent cup run too. So their report card probably merits a B+ overall. Despite the ever changing face of the side through 1st XI calls and other reasons many of the juniors continued to make really good progress.
Individually, Ste and Lucky continue to defy the sands of time and set records galore both in the 2ndXI and the club as a whole. Jimmy despite missing a few games led from the front with 359 runs (plus 8 wickets & 15 catches!), Aaron B underlined his growing promise with 272 runs whilst Ste & Jake also passed 200 runs. With the ball Daz continues to lead the line with aplomb with his 51 wickets the highest for the 2nds since 2009. Arron P underlined his promise with 25 wickets whilst Kish picked up 24 despite an injury hit season. Mention too for Oliver B-J who picked up 14 wickets in another season of progress for him.
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