WHEN your professional hits a stunning 180 you would expect to be celebrating a glorious win.

But unfortunately for Great Harwood, Syed Shahabuddin’s grand total was not enough as the league leaders fell at the first hurdle in the Ramsbottom Cup in a mammoth clash at Padiham.

The 635 runs scored in that game by-passed the Ramsbottom Cup record of 633 set in 1990 but it was little consolation to Harwood captain Allan Armer.

"I was disappointed, especially as we came so close," said the skipper with Harwood losing out by just 15 runs as they chased a massive 325.

"It was a big total but Padiham’s ground is one of those grounds where you can chase a big score.

"But we lost a couple of wickets late on and that cost us."

But the captain knows it is his side’s lack of depth in bowling which proved the difference in the cup.

With just 10 overs each, they struggled to remove Padiham pro Kashif Siddique who made 108 and brothers teenager Abdul Siddique (67) and Umar Siddique (102).

"We just couldn’t get them out," said Armer. "But we didn’t field well either. Our pro dropped Umar on 38 and he went onto get over a 100 so it just wasn’t to be our day.

"In the past, the cup has suited us because we have had a number of bowlers but this time we have a shortage of them.

"That’s why we need the pro to keep bowling well as, if he can bowl 20 overs at one end in the league, we can get two or three of the amateurs chipping in at the other.

"And we know, unlike last weekend, we need to keep the score down as our batting is good enough."

Due to their cup exit, it is now full steam ahead on concentrating on the league - and they are in a nice position. But Armer doesn’t want any talk of winning the title as it is something which has eluded Harwood for more than 100 years - and something which is mentioned every season.

"I don’t want to talk about that - there is a long way to go. All I know is that we have played five games, won four and one was abandoned.

"And we have a tough weekend ahead against Cherry Tree and Ribblesdale Wanderers but if the sun is shining and me and Russell (Whalley) can get in the runs and the pro performs again, then we can keep it going."

Indian all-rounder Shahabuddin is settling in, in his first experience of Ribblesdale League life.

"It is tricky sometimes because he cannot speak a lot of English but he does know his cricket.

"He has a variety of nicknames but it is usually "Shobi" - he doesn’t mind, though, whatever we call him!

"He is a cracking lad and I will certainly have no complaints if he gets 180 every week."

Armer, though, did have a few selection headaches after Jason Kayley came in and did well last weekend.

John Swanney and Jonathan Crabtree were missing but are available again - while Paul Newton is away but also wants to make a big impact in the first team this season.

"It has been tricky choosing the team but it is nice to have too many to choose from. Mind you, it is hard when people are picking their games!

"But whoever is in we just have to keep concentrating and hopefully keep winning."

While Harwood had cup woes, last season’s cup runners-up Baxenden put on a stunning show to see off early title chasers Edenfield.

Bash had quality shows from Ian Austin - with a half century - young all-rounder Dominic Bulcock and their sub pro Haslingden’s David Bandy got in the wickets to seal a quarter-final tie with Read.

Bash face Edenfield again tomorrow and Settle this weekend.

Oswaldtwistle Immanuel had an early cup exit as they found Settle’s early batsmen in top form.

Pro Andy Kerr returned from a finger injury to hit 87 and youngster Daniel Metcalf made 40 in their 197 but the bowlers struggled to shift Settle’s early men.

Gerard Metcalf’s side are up against Barnoldswick and Blackburn Northern in this weekend’s double headers.

SHAHABUDDIN’S 180 came off 143 balls with 15 fours and 10 sixes.