Nelson moved to the top of the Lancashire League Division Two table after a thrilling one-wicket victory over local rivals Colne on Sunday.
Looking to bounce back from Friday night’s T20 defeat, the 1st XI returned to the Horsfield aiming to continue their impressive league winning streak.
After losing the toss and being asked to field, Nelson made an excellent start. Sam Kelly removed the Colne captain with the score at 11-1, before Hassan Fazal dismissed the other opener to leave the home side 36-2.
Colne recovered well and had progressed to 174-3, looking set to post a formidable total, before Khurram Nazir (4-57) removed the home side’s professional just as he looked ready to accelerate the scoring. Hassan Fazal also impressed with 3-67 as Colne closed their 50 overs on 235-9.
Nelson’s reply got off to the worst possible start, losing Nabeel Ahmed with just one run on the board. Lewis Bradley joined Sam Holt and the pair added 60 for the second wicket before Bradley was caught and bowled for 21 & Holt was given out LBW for a well made 42.
Professional Tyler McGladdery could only watch from the other end as Nelson slipped from 83-2 to 145-7, leaving the visitors staring defeat in the face.
With 90 runs still required from the final 13 overs, McGladdery and Gul Sabir began to rebuild, keeping the scoreboard moving gradually.
When Sabir was trapped LBW for a valuable 25, Nelson were 203-8 and still needed 33 runs from the final four overs.
McGladdery, who had held the innings together throughout, then shifted through the gears in pursuit of an unlikely victory.
At the start of the 49th over, Nelson required 16 runs from 12 balls with two wickets in hand. McGladdery struck the first two deliveries for four, bringing up a terrific second century of the season in the process.
After taking a single from the next ball, Nelson needed seven runs from nine deliveries with Khurram Nazir on strike. Attempting to get McGladdery back on strike, Nazir was run out, bringing number 11 Sam Kelly to the crease.
Crucially, Nelson’s professional was back on strike. McGladdery launched the fifth ball of the over for six to level the scores before, with the field brought into the circle, he hit the final delivery of the over for his 14th boundary to seal a remarkable Derby Day victory and spark jubilant celebrations.
McGladdery finished unbeaten on a superb 113* from just 93 balls, guiding Nelson to the top of the Division Two table after seven matches.
It was a nail-biting victory and Nelson’s fourth consecutive league win. They will now look to build on that momentum when they host Accrington twice at Seedhill this weekend. First, they return to T20 action on Friday evening before fourth placed Accrington visit again for Sunday’s league fixture.
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