Mixed Fortunes for Quartet

Saturday was a mixed day for Hyndburn's Lancashire League clubs with  Church and Rishton recording wins but Enfield and Accrington falling to defeat.

There was a tight finish at West End where Church beat Bacup by just 9 runs. Veteran Nick Westwell was the Church hero, hitting an unbeaten 36 in a 9th wicket stand of 48 with Andy Bentley and then  taking 4-51 in  marathon 25 over spell.

Phil Sykes made 40 and professional Ruvin Peiris 32 in the home sides 153-8 but an opening  stand of 68 made Bacup the favourites. Peiris split the openers with his 50th wicket of the season and the Sri Lankan went on to take 5-65 to bowl Church to a 9 run win.

It was much easier for Rishton at Colne where Scott Greaves' men came away with an 8 wicket win. Peter Sleep took 4-65 in Colne's innings of 136 and then professional Kumar Dharmasena (59) and Andy Bartley (55 not out) both made half centuries in a 2nd wicket stand of 120 as Rishton won with 8 overs to spare.

Enfield were beaten by league leaders Lowerhouse at Dill Hall Lane. Mitch Taylor made an unbeaten 65 in Enfield’s 167-8 but the leaders got home comfortably thanks to a superb unbeaten 81 by rising star Vishal Tripathi and 67 from veteran Chris Bleazard.

Things don't get any better for Accrington who were beaten by 75 runs at Burnley. It was another miserable day for professional Tama Canning who conceded 101 runs off his 21 overs and he was then out for 5 as Accrington tumbled to 124 all out.

Two players who had good  days though were skipper Matt Wilson, who hit 56 and Damian Clarke, who took 6-45 which included his 200th league wicket for the club and which was also a career best.

Sunday's derby games brought wins for Rishton and Enfield. Peter Sleep hit an unbeaten 73 to coast passed 1,000 league runs for the season as Church were again on the receiving end of the Australian's broad bat.Kumra Dharmasen atook 4-48 with Church skipper Phil Sykes hitting 60 against his former club in his sides innings of  147-9. Dharmasena then hit 30 and Parvez Kazi 47 but it was Sleep who hit the headlines in Rishton's 7 wicket win.

Enfield inflicted more pain on Accrington with a 9 wicket thumping at Thorneyholme Road. It was a tale of two captains with Enfield's David  Bracewell taking 5-36 and Accrington's Matt Wilson hitting 75 in Accrington's 155. Craig Fergusson (70 not out) and Alviro Petersen (53 not out) both crashed unbeaten half centuries after Mas Ahgmed had fallen to Tama Canning for 24.