Being unable to use their full allocation of 45 overs cost them dear against a visiting side who bowled well on a wicket that gave their medium paced attack assistance, and enabled pro Syed Shahabuddin to finish with the fine figures of 6-38 off 20 overs, and Paul Houldsworth 4-34.

It was a disappointing debut for Whalley paid man Rajagopal Sathish.
The Indian professional built a very patient 58 before being adjudged leg before, one of four in the home side's innings, and bowled with promise, taking 2-38 off 17 overs.

Richard Palmer won the toss and elected to bat, but Martin Davies and Declan Fitzhenry found runs hard to come by and Fitzhenry went for seven to Shahabuddin leg before.

This brought the professional "Saty" to the crease, and they took the score to 28 before Davies was caught behind for five.

The major blow for Whalley was the loss of Neil Cordingley third ball for a duck, clean bowled by the visiting pro.

Lee Kearsley and Sathish then set about rebuilding the innings, and moved along nicely to 69 before Kearsley went leg before for 11.

Palmer was next to fall, bowled by Houldsworth for one, allowing Mark Fallon to join Sathish.

The pair moved along towards the century mark, and the introduction of spinner Paul Newton allowed Sathish to show what he has in the locker – his one over going for 18, including two maximums.

Unfortunately the paid man fell to Houldsworth for 58 off 91 deliveries, an innings which gave a glimmer of hope, if the rest could add another 40 or so runs.

But the remaining four wickets fell for just 23 with almost three overs remaining, Fallon being last man out for 27.

Harwood made a solid start and had 41 on the board before David O'Neill had John Swanney leg before for 13.

There was hope when potential big hitter Russ Whalley went without scoring to give Sathish his first wicket in the Ribblesdale League.

And a grinding knock of 27 by Matt Howarth was ended when Fitzhenry was introduced, followed by Harwood captain Allan Armer clean bowled, and Whalley were back in the game at 63-4.

The eager youngster got his third victim when Houldsworth was caught behind by John Rain for nine at 75-5, which soon became 88-6 and 95-7 as a gazelle-like Davies pounced to leave Jonathan Crabtree well out of his ground.

The healthy crowd could sense a tense finish, but the day belonged to Shahabuddin as he saw his side through to the end, finishing the game on 36 not out, ably assisted by Phil Allen, who made a rapid 17 not out.

The weather robbed Whalley of any chance to make amends when they faced Padiham on Sunday, as the rain won over the valiant efforts of their hosts to get the game played.

After over an hour's delay, play eventually got underway, Palmer winning the toss and electing to field.

Whalley soon had Padiham tied down in tricky conditions, with just 18 coming off the first 12 overs.

A rain break meant an early tea and Padiham tried to get into the Whalley attack that was giving away nothing.

But the rain finally won the day with 56-4 on the board with 25 overs completed, the highlight of which was a catch by Sathish that amazed everyone at the Arbories.

It is a big weekend at Station Road as Whalley look to make up lost ground in the league when Barnoldswick visit on Saturday.

And an exciting Bank Holiday Monday could be in store when Glossop travel from Derbyshire for a Lancashire Cup game, start time 2 p.m., all pay.