Lancashire League Sunday round-up: Rain's a pain for leaders (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Lancashire League Sunday round-up: Rain's a pain for leaders

7:58am Monday 20th August 2012 in Sport

THE rain proved to a pain to the leading lights of the Foster’s Lancashire League yesterday as four games were washed out without a ball being bowled, two had minimal play – and the one game that produced a result was held up by the North West Air Ambulance.

Joint leaders Lowerhouse and Enfield were left kicking their heels and failed to start their games with Rawtenstall and Rishton respectively despite the best efforts of all concerned to get play on.

When Lowerhouse skipper Charlie Cottam and Rawtenstall captain Vinny Hanson finally agreed no play would be possible, Enfield skipper Adam Bracewell also accepted the inevitable at Blackburn Road as players and spectators endured a frustrating wait in the rain that started at 11.30am.

Nelson’s Seedhill clash with Accrington was called off without a ball being delivered and it was the same story at Acre Bottom as Ramsbottom and Colne were left frustrated by the weather.

But it was still a day to remember for Ramsbottom’s young wicketkeeper Tom Parton as he collected his prize for being named as the league Under 23 player of the month for July from league chairman Mike Bibby.

East Lancashire and Church managed a little bit of action at Alexandra Meadows.

They started play at 3.10pm – but soon after Lloyd Aspin delivered the first ball the drizzle started to fall.

It got steadily heavier until the umpires had no option but to call a halt with East Lancashire 11-0 from 4.5 overs.

Explosive West Indian Brenton Parchment was substitute professional for Haslingden against Todmorden.

But it was not the day for Parchment’s expansive game and the Jamaican former Test man was one not out as Haslingden dashed to 25-1 from seven overs against Todmorden.

The one game to produce a result also saw the players of Burnley and Bacup dodging the showers – and also the air ambulance when it landed on the outfield after being called to an incident in a house nearby.

That was in the second innings – and Burnley were already chasing Bacup’s score in fewer than the 20 overs after more rain during the tea interval.

Bacup batted first in the game that was reduced to a 25-over affair but ran into in-form Burnley pro Adnan Rasool, who claimed five wickets as they were restricted to 88-5 two balls before the end of their knock.

Tim Farragher made 24 for Bacup but Steve Whittaker’s 35 not out saw Burnley home in just a dozen overs after rain had left them with just 18 to face.

Home skipper Bharat Tripathi had opted to go for Bacup’s total in those overs – a decision that paid a rich dividend for his men, whose only two wickets to fall were both via run outs in the frantic chase for the rapid victory.

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