Lancashire League Sunday round-up: Enfield stay in the clear (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Lancashire League Sunday round-up: Enfield stay in the clear

9:12am Monday 6th August 2012 in Cricket By Matt Donlan, Sports reporter

ENFIELD stayed out in front of the chasing pack at the head of the Foster’s Lancashire League as they made the best out of a game at East Lancashire that turned into a lottery thanks to a freakish playing surface.

Balls flew off a length and shot through at ankle height and East Lancashire suffered the worst of the conditions as they were shot out for just 59 in 27.2 overs.

Paul Kelly was struck in the head by a David Bracewell delivery that steepled from a length and only young Ben Westhead (16) and Mo Bhada (10) managed double figures as Werner Coetsee claimed 5-26 and Bracewell 4-13.

Conditions were little better as Enfield batted and Saggi Hussain departed to a Danny Chester delivery that flew from nowhere but Coetsee and Nasser Hussain seemed to be taking Enfield home until the latter went for a stoic three with the score on 45.

They then lost Coetsee (31) and Ash Gowers to successive Ockert Erasmus balls and then the home pro sent Joe Wrigley back and at 47-5 Enfield hearts were twitching.

But Adam Bracewell smashed two sixes and a four off Usama Chaudry to win it.

Lowerhouse and Todmorden maintained their chase of the leaders, though, and they both recorded wins.

The reigning champions were at home to Church a week before the sides meet in the Worsley Cup final and they laid down a marker of intent thanks.

With Francois Haasbroek struggling with injury, Lowerhouse borrowed Darwen’s Shaun De Kock and he claimed six wickets as Church were 124 all out with Craig Fergusson making 37.

With rain arriving Lowerhouse needed to get a wriggle on and Jonny Whitehead did just that as he hit a half-century to steer his side home.

Todmorden skittled Nelson for Nelson at Seedhill – and the home side’s 111 all out was never likely to be enough as Tod stayed third.

Accrington were left wondering what might have been as the rain halted their game at Ramsbottom after they had piled up a big score thanks to 116 from sub pro Imad Wasim. The ex-Burnley man helped his temporary team-mates to 242-5, while Aijaz Shah made 58.

Ramsbottom lost Pieter Malan for 27 as they replied and had rattled to 52-1 from 8.3 overs when the rain came down.

Qasim Ali made 51 as Keith Roscoe claimed five wickets to bowl Burnley out for 132 at Rawtenstall – but Bharat Tripathi went through the 250-wicket mark in the league as he claimed 5-23 with Rawtenstall 92 all out.

Dale Deeb performed well for Bacup as they beat Colne at The Horsfield. Chasing 173-6, made off a reduced 47 overs, Colne were 110 all out as both Deeb and Andrew Spencer claimed three wickets.

And it was a thrilling win for Haslingden as they beat Rishton after bowling them out for 80. That was remarkable after Haslingden had been rolled over for just 84 themselves.

Comments are closed on this article.