ACCRINGTON Cricket Club have secured the services of professional Nishit Shetty for next season.

Talks with the Indian left handed batsman had been ongoing for a number of weeks, and Shetty finally put pen to paper on a new deal at Bacup this weekend.

Delighted Accrington chairman Rod Kenyon said: "It's fantastic news for the club.

"He proved very early on in the season that he isn't a one-hit wonder, plus he's really helped the other lads at the club along and instilled a bit of confidence.

"He knows if they all keep playing to their potential that we have a chance of being there or thereabouts next season.

"One or two other clubs, not just from the Lancashire League, wanted him, but he asked us what the chances of him coming back next season were, we put some figures together and we're really glad he has decided to stay with us.

"There's a lot of optimisim for the future."

Shetty made himself instantly popular with the Accrington faithful after a blistering start to the 2006 season.

The 34-year-old spin bowler hit an unbeaten 155 in his first game, at home to Colne, and followed that up with 173 two weeks later at home to Rawtenstall.

He is less than 150 runs away from reaching 1000 for the season, although he has been hampered by a back strain in recent weeks.

Kenyon added: "He's been struggling a bit and hasn't bowled for a few weeks, but he's seeing an osteopath and we're hoping it will clear up soon."

l SOME of Accrington's greatest matches are relived in a new book.

The book, written by Nigel Stockley, entitled 'It was 20 years ago today, The Complete History of Accrington in the Worsley Cup'has been published to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Accrington's 1986 Lancashire Evening Telegraph Cup win and the club's 160th year.

The book is available for £8 from Music Zone, the Tourist Information Centre, Oswaldtwistle Mills, Accrington Cricket Club and Bolton Avenue Newsagents or or by contacting the author Nigel Stockley (01254 392923 or ncstockley@supanet.com). All proceeds go towards club funds.