Lancs League Action 5/9/05

Rishton were the only winners on Sunday as the Lancashire League season nears its conclusion. On an historic day that saw Cinderella Club Lowerhouse win the title for the first time ever, Rishton beat neighbours Enfield by just 16 runs in a low scoring match at Dill Hall Lane. A career best innings of 40 by Mick Winkley turned out to be the match winning knock as the youngster survived a dolly catch to Phil Stanley on 2 to play the best cricket of his life. It was ironic that Winkley should later take a superb catch to dismiss Stanley as Enfield folded alarmingly. Sam Hacking (25) and skipper Scott Greaves (19) aided Winkley’s rearguard effort after half the side had succumbed to Alviro Petersen (3-35) and Neil Holmes (2-39) for 30. Skipper David Bracewell cleaned up the tail in taking 4-31 as Rishton were bowled out for 123. Peter Sleep made just 16 so he needs 47 more from the final match to break the club’s amateur batting record. Professional Kumar Dharmasena made up for his duck by taking 5-28, his best figures for the club as Enfield were dismissed for 107. Richard Rostron celebrated winning the July Young Player of the month award by taking 3-24 and Bracewell top scored with a laboured 33 for the home side.

Church collapsed to a 66 run defeat at the hands of Haslingden after racing to 122-1. Professional Ruvin Peiris smashed the Haslingden bowling to all parts of the ground with Steve Dearden going for 51 off his 5 overs with 25 coming from his final over. Peiris hit 15 fours and a six off just 74 balls with Adam Greenwood (20) and skipper Phil Sykes (14) standing and watching for the most part, but once they had gone spinners Stuart Catterall (5-19) and Nick Kennedy (4-24) cleaned up the rest of the batting with alarming ease after Haslingden had made 217-6 in their innings.

Yet another defeat for Accrington at the hands of East Lancs means that the present side have now lost more matches this season than any other side in the club’s 159 year history. The home side mercilessly piled up 308-8 with Zahir Afzal the only bowler to come away with decent figures as professional Tama Canning gain conceded over 100 for the second week running. Afzal added a top score of 45 to his 3-58 and the Hussain brothers Sagawat (27) and Nasser (22) added 47 for the 8th wicket as Accrington made 161.