Rammy go for Stewart by Nigel Stockley

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Player:

SL Stewart

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DateLine: 17th January 2011

 

Lancashire League champions Ramsbottom have signed New Zealander Shanan Stewart as their new professional. The club moved for the former East Lancs paid man after their original signing Francois du Plessis was singed by Chennai Super Kings for the Indian Premier League which would have kept the South African occupied until June.

 

There was also the possibility of du Plessis being signed by a county for the English Twenty20 competition so Ramsbottom opted for the 28 year-old Stewart.

 

Stewart had an outstanding first season in the league with East Lancs in 2007, scoring 1069 runs at 62.9 with two centuries and eleven fifties. Stewart also picked up 57 wickets at 18.4. His best batting and bowling figures came in the same match when he scored 133 and took 8-34 in a fantastic all round display at Church on June 16th. He also led the side to victory in the Get Solutions Worsley Cup Final against Bacup.

 

Not surprisingly, East Lancs re-signed the Canterbury batsman for 2008. Unfortunately he had to return home for a hernia operation in mid June after playing in 9 matches during which he totalled 435 runs at 62.1 and he also took 24 wickets at 18.8. He opened the season in prime form with the ball, taking 8-312 at Bacup. He also played one of the outstanding innings of the season, hitting a superb unbeaten 137 to almost single-handedly win the match against Rishton.

 

Stewart will be Ramsbottom's third professional from New Zealand following Chris Harris and Lou Vincent.