CLITHEROE pro Janaka Gunaratne smashed his way into the Houldsworth Ribblesdale League record books and straight into a derby war of words.
The Sri Lankan professional, 34, became the first player in the league’s 122-year history to hit six sixes off one over. But furious Ribblesdale Wanderers players believed Gunaratne should have been out for a duck.
He celebrated his reprieve by blasting the final six deliveries of the Clitheroe innings to all parts of the Church Meadow ground, losing four balls in the process. Ian Britcliffe was the unlucky bowler but still finished with figures of 6-80 off 15 overs.
Gunaratne ended with 79 not out and then claimed 8-41 as the Lancashire Cup semi-finalists and Senior League leaders secured a 54-run victory.
“Janaka was bowled, second ball off-stump by Jordan Britcliffe,” insisted Ian Britcliffe. “But the square-leg umpire, Frank Newby, reckoned the ball came back off the wicket-keeper.
“We could not believe it. The game was stopped for five minutes or more and a few words said before Janaka was called back. At the end he hit me good and proper, over the bowling green, over the car park, everywhere.
“I had bowled off a one-pace run-up because we had been told to bowl our last four overs in five minutes. But I was off my usual long run for those last six balls.”
Clitheroe skipper Paul Gaskell said: “Wanderers were adamant Janaka was out. But it was not clear and he did not believe he was out. There were two noises and the square-leg umpire reckoned it came off the wicket-keeper. At the end, Janaka’s batting was a joy to watch.
“There was some big hitting and it definitely swung the game.”
Settle are still in contention for the title. Ossie went down by 43 runs at Brooksbottom for whom Peter Betros hit the top score of 98 on a rain-affected afternoon.
Keegan Peterson signed off in emphatic style for Read before leaving to take part in Africa’s first Twenty20 Cup – the South African scored 90 in a 96-run victory over Whalley then hit 99 in a rearranged fixture as they beat Brinscall yesterday.
