HASLINGDEN and East Lancs were involved in a bizarre mix-up at the end of their game on Sunday - as East Lancs walked off believing they had won when the scores were actually level.

The Blackburn side were then forced to return to the middle to score one more run - which they did the next ball - to seal a memorable victory.

The Bent Gate scoreboard was showing Haslingden’s total of 252 rather than the runs required.

“It caused a bit of a fracas for about five minutes,” said East Lancs skipper Mark Bolton.

“I was batting and when a wide came down it took us to 252 and that was the score we had been chasing.

“We all shook hands and walked off and then we heard the murmurings from the scorebox and had to go out with two balls to spare.

“Luckily we got a leg bye straight up and won - but it would have been an issue had we not won the game.

“It was down to the Haslingden scorer as it is his scorebox.

“I would hope that they learn from it and it doesn’t happen again.”

East Lancs won the game thanks largely to 76 from Brendan Nash and a stunning 25-ball 50 from Abdul Biswoodal.

Biswoodal went on to make 59 with four sixes and four fours.

Haslingden innings
G Knowles c J Turner b B’oodal 83
Hayes run out 60
S Dearden b Nash 23
C Read c Pearson b Sweeney 28
J Pemberton c Redhead b Nash 20
LG Ingham c and b Sweeney 4
M Imtiaz run out 4
M Ahmed c JPA Turner b Nash 3
JJ Marcroft not out 6
J Sudworth not out 3
Extras 18
Total (8 wickets) 252

Patel 7 0 43 0, Sweeney 14 2 73 2, Nash 15 2 53 3, Kelly 8 1 36 0, Iqbal 4 0 21 0, Bisoodwall 2 0 12 1

East Lancashire innings
DJ Pearson run out 41
DJ Redhead b Shah 20
Nash c Marcroft b Dearden 76
JPA Turner c Ahmed b Knowles 1
PI Bolton b Knowles 15
A Biswoodal c M’roft b Dearden 59
PB Kelly b Shah 3
S Patel run out 2
N Iqbal not out 4
MJ Bolton not out 0
Extras 32
Total (8 wickets) 253

Dearden 14 0 76 2, Sudworth 5 0 11, Shah 19.5 3 84 2, Knowles 11 0 67 2

East Lancs won by 2 wickets.

Haslingden 4pts, East Lancs 10pts