BRADSHAW are expecting to have new professional Rumesh Buddhika available for this weekend’s league and Peter Stafford Trophy games.

The Sri Lankan all-rounder is due to land at the Rigbys in midweek and will therefore also be available for their forthcoming Hamer Cup semi-final away at Farnworth on August 5.

Bradshaw qualified for that with a high-scoring quarter-final win at home to Astley Bridge on Sunday when they defended a 336 target to win by 65 runs.

Captain Brett Ernst said: “We lost Muhammad Saad to Pakistan A and have been filling in with deputy professionals. But we’ve secured the services of a Sri Lankan first-class player, Rumesh Buddhika.

“He was due to go to Colwyn Bay, where he was last year, but Sri Lanka intervened due to some selection which never eventuated. Colwyn Bay had to find a new pro in the meantime.

“It just so happens he had everything ready and hopefully will be ready for the weekend.”

Sunday’s deputy pro Ashen Silva (Great Harwood) hit 70 in Bradshaw’s 335-9 after winning the toss, although opener Tom Liversedge top-scored with 78. He shared 126 in 20 overs for the first wicket with Stuart Hornby (55).

In reply, Astley Bridge were bowled out for 270, with leg-spinner Jordan Mason’s 3-52 from eight overs the pick of the figures as wickets were shared.

The visitors had just a sniff of victory with pro Denuwan Dadallage in on 76 at 228-5 in the 38th over, needing 108 more. But he was run out.

“They would have had to bat out of their skins to get it,” said Ernst.

“When the pro was in, we thought he could win it. But Elliott Dargan ran him out running around from backward square to fine-leg. It was a great throw right by the stumps.

“It’s the third time this year he’s run somebody out, including two pros and Alex Roberts at Walkden. He’s got an absolute bullet arm.

“When you put a score on like that, 335, as much as we talk about the mentality before we walk out and being switched on, you’re just not there at the same intensity as you would be defending 200.

“We were a bit off the mark at the start, but we managed to get over the line.”

Ernst reserved praise for Liversedge and Mason, admitting the former “has to be up there in the discussion for best amateur all-rounder in the league alongside Chris Barrow”.

And of the pursuit of silverware, Ernst added: “The league’s not worked for us, but we’ve shown we can play good cricket. We’ve beaten Kearsley twice and Walkden. Not many teams can say they’ve beaten Walkden.

“We had a lot of 50/50 games early in the year which didn't go our way. That’s hurt us.

“We got to the last 16 of the National Knockout, were there at T20 Finals Day, we’re in the semi-finals of the Hamer Cup and close to a quarter-final in the Peter Stafford. We seem to be Jack of all trades. We’re trying to be master of one.”