Lancashire League Handbook 2024

LCL Handbook 2024 20 SECRETARY’S REPORT 2023 We began 2023 with ECB Premier League status with no changes to our playing regulations. The Colne Trophy match between Ramsbottom and a Darwen could not be played due to the weather. The day after, the season startedwith 3 out of the 6 Premier League games washed out without a ball being bowled and Division Two lost 2 games too. Burnley, Lowerhouse and Todmorden got their seasons away with opening day victories. Over the course of the season there were 38 matches with no results and Enfield andWalsden were the worst affected with 9 each. Darwen and Lowerhouse were the least affected with 4 each. The initial Premier League season ended with just a three point gap, however going into the last set of games four teams still had a chance of taking the title. The leadership had changed places throughout the season but Burnley led the way at the start of play with Darwen in 2nd place. Burnley were at Lowerhouse, Darwen at Norden and Clitheroe were at Littleborough. A century from Ashar Zaidi together with a return 4 for 6 put Darwen on the back foot whilst at Lowerhouse, Burnley were keeping an eye on the Darwen score during a rain break, however at Hare Hill Littleborough had beaten Clitheroe to leapfrog Darwen and Burnley and at one stage were top of the table. However, as no result was possible at Lowerhouse, Burnley gained 5 points to secure the title. The runners up were therefore Littleborough, they kept right on until the end of the season and had great success with a Worsley Cup win, T20 final and the Holland Cup. Over the season Zac Perren hit 443 runs, Bryce Street 372 and Ryan Miskella 305, Ryan also took 45 wickets and LewisWillman took 39 and Bryce Street 30. The Champions were well served during the season by Liam Bedford with 656 runs including 3 centuries and a top score of 116. Professional Ockert Erasmus who scored 464 runs and Qasim Shah 327. With ball the Erasmus had 42 wickets, Bharat Tripathi 27 and Harry Snowden 24. In Senior Division Two we went into the last matches of the season with Church just needing bonus points to secure promotion but their visitors were Crompton who had looked to be contenders for a great part of the season whilst Middleton had brought themselves into the frame.