AFTER the initial showers in the morning on both Saturday and Sunday, I managed to get two full games in, which turned out to be very close contests last weekend.

On Saturday I was at Bradshaw as they entertained Horwich. Both teams struggled at times to score runs through some excellent bowling but a polished 101 from Bradshaw’s professional, Sachithra Serasinghe, saw him hit the winning runs, gaining his century at the same time with two overs to spare.

The following day I was at a Lancashire Women’s Development Group game at Tottington St Johns who played Ribble Valley District Vipers in a 40-over game.

There was some bright young talent in both teams and I wasn’t surprised to see a few girls wearing Lancashire caps because they were in their age-group county teams.

The game came down to Tottington wanting 12 off the last over with their last batsmen in.

They failed to do so and Ribble Valley won by eight runs.

Comment of the day had to be “Just a minute umpire, I have to do my hair” as a player was trying to fold her long hair into a topknot. That brought about a smile from all.

Both games had things in common – respect for fellow players which made the game enjoyable for all, encouragement for younger players and not only were they hard-fought but the result could have gone either way.

A talking point came from another match played over the weekend and that was penalty runs for a ball hitting the helmet placed on the ground behind the stumps.

Five penalty runs are awarded to the batting side for this and the umpire signals it by patting their shoulder so the scorers can understand what is going on.

What happens if the batsmen have run? How many runs do they get?

If they cross before the ball hits the helmet then they will get one run because as soon as the ball hits the helmet it becomes automatically dead and nothing else can happen.

The penalty runs are not awarded to the batsmen, nor are they put against the bowler but the score increases by five runs plus the one the batsman has scored.

I have heard of a throw coming in from the boundary which has hit the helmet. The batsmen were crossing for their third run when the ball hit so the striker would get three runs and the total would increase by eight.

You don’t see many balls hit the helmet but it’s important an umpire knows what to do if it does.