ALL things being equal, Radcliffe could have won this home game against Rochdale, but a lack or urgency, combined with a superb batting display from the visiting professional put paid to any chances of a home victory.

Docked four overs when it came to their innings, (for taking too long to bowl their 50 overs - three hours and 22 minutes, the maximum time allowed being three hours five minutes) Radcliffe simply ran out of time, having given the opposition too much of it.

"With me out, Pasan knew he couldn't afford to get out too, so he batted accordingly, but if we'd had the extra four overs it might have been worth him risking his arm," said Radcliffe skipper Graeme Simpson.

"But the time rule is in the book and you have to accept it, we've only ourselves to blame.

"It's a constant problem for us, we're always right on the wire for time.

"We have two young bowlers, 16-year-old Steve Cheetham and 19-year-old Toby McLean, who use up more time than they need to when bowling.

"Toby in particular bowls off an enormous run-up, you wouldn't go that far on holiday!

"All it needs is for them to bowl a wide and an over can take an absolute age, and that's what messes us up."

However, it wasn't all doom and gloom.

"We didn't disgrace ourselves," he added.

"Campbell may well have got over a hundred but we dropped him first ball, missed at slip off Pasan."

Batting first, Dale had opener Ayers out for just five (lbw Wanansinghe) and hopes were high in the home camp of restricting the visitors to a beatable total.

However, a second wicket partnership of 168 between Brierley (44) and pro Sherwin Campbell, a former West Indies test star, changed things dramatically.

Brierley's exit (caught by Smalley off McLean) was followed by Campbell (caught Simpson off McLean), but his knock of 110 had already done the damage.

Field and Halliwell followed cheaply, but a sixth wicket stand of 46 from Henderson (28 not out) and Butterworth (20) saw the visitors through their permitted 50 overs to 243-6.

McLean, with 4-42, did his best to stem the avalanche of runs, but Radcliffe contributed to their own downfall by giving away 35 extras.

Match rules also meant that even if the visitors failed to dismiss Radcliffe they would still claim maximum points unless Radcliffe topped their total.

In reply Hayes and Cruse put up 24 before Hayes went to an Oldfield catch off a Mo Bux delivery.

Cruse was then joined by home pro Pasan Wanansinghe and they added 33 before the Aussie went to a Field catch off an Oddy ball.

Up stepped skipper Simpson who together with Wanansinghe (86no) added an impressive 103 to take the reply to 160 before Simpson (40) was bowled by Avery.

With the skipper's departure went Radcliffe's's slim hopes of overtaking the Dale total, and the home side managed 193-4 off 46 overs.

Victory lifted Rochdale into second spot in the CLL table.