The Lancashire League Second XI Knockout Cup Final

Accrington (173/9) beat Church (91 all out)

ACCRINGTON have kept their league and cup double dream alive thanks to a brilliant batting performance from Mark Stevenson.

The Thorneyholme Road boys lifted the Second XI Knockout Cup for the first time since 1979 as they beat championship rivals Church in convincing fashion.

It was the first silverware for the club in 11 years and now they are in the hunt for their first championship since 1912.

Stevenson scored a match-winning 75 runs as he and opening partner Martin Whittle gave Accrington a firm foundation to build on.

The pair put on 87 runs before the partnership was broken when Whittle was dismissed for 40 runs.

However Stephenson continued to produce the goods and with the help of a middle order who all chipped in, Accrington reached a commanding 173-6 at the close of their innings.

In contrast, cup holders Church struggled and lost Dave Gilraine for a duck when he was trapped lbw in only the second over by Stefan Heins.

Fellow opener Andrew Bentley also went cheaply for five and was caught be Adam Greenwood off Kamran Khan. It was one of three catches for Greenwood at backward point.

Alan Gilraine and Ben Lloyd tried to safe Church's innings but both fell victim to Khan who went on to take four wickets.

Asim Hussain also had a fine performance with the ball taking three wickets while skipper Len Dewhurst and a successful short spell with two wickets in three overs.

The two clubs will now battle it out with Ramsbottom as the race for the title hots up.

Delighted skipper Dewhurst said: "We had a game plan and we stuck to it. But the job is only half done because we still want to win the championship." ACCRINGTON

M Whittle b Bentley...40

M Stevenson c Lloyd b George...75

S Heins run out...1

R Burrows st Rawcliffe b Ferguson...3

A Greenwood b Hargreaves...0

S Sadiq lbw b Ferguson...6

A Hussain run out...17

S Juliff c Gilraine b Hargreaves...7

K Khan b George...4

R Chaplow not out...1

L Dewhurst not out...4

Extras...12

Total (9wkts)...179

Bowling: K Ferguson 10-5-13-2; S George 9-0-49-2; A Bentley 10-0-30-1; A Pilkington 4-0-18-0; N Westwell 10-2-31-0; S Hargreaves 7-0-29-2 CHURCH

A Bentley c Greenwood b Khan...5

D Gilraine lbw b Heins...0

A Gilraine b Khan...15

B Lloyd c Greenwood b Khan...10

D Bury b Hussain...6

A Rawcliffe c Greenwood b Khan...14

S Hargreaves c Whittle b Dewhurst...12

K Ferguson b Hussain...2

N Westwell c Sadiq b Hussain...0

S George b Dewhurst...2

A Pilkington not out...2

Extras...23

Total (all out)...91

Bowling: S Juliff 6-2-7-0; S Heins 10-1-32-1; K Khan 10-4-20-4; A Hussain 9-4-12-3; L Dewhurst 3.2-1-13-2