CAREER-BEST bowling figures of seven for 61 for Gary Levy wasn't enough to prevent Unsworth from slipping to a 32-run defeat at sun-baked Redbrook on Saturday.
Levy's figures would have been even better on a wicket that was suited to the bowlers had it not been for a late assault by Rochdale's swashbuckling Mo Bux, who hit a decisive 24, including three massive sixes.
A typically patient 47 from Rochdale professional Dirkie De Vos, aided by a solid 20 from skipper Jon Hendwerson, had paved the way to Rochdale's total of 153.
The bowlers ruled the roost again when Unsworth replied and De Vos and Avery's spin kept the visitors pinned down. Sri Lankan profesional Pasan Wanansinghe top scored with 29, but even he struggled to get the ball off the square and De Vos and Avery finished with three wickets apiece as Unsworth were restricted to 121 all out.
Radcliffe were the visitors to Unsworth for a Wood Cup quarter-final tie that was held up by the rain midway through the second innings.
Unsworth were restricted to 139 for eight off their 50 overs, with Steve Holt the pick of the Radcliffe bowlers as he took four wickets for 22 runs off his 10 overs.
The game was in the balance as Radcliffe were struggling a little at 45 for three, having faced 20.2 overs, when the weather closed in.
The game was again hit by bad weather on Wednesday and it was hoped to conclude proceedingson Thursday night.
There was no love lost at Milnrow as Stand went down to a 62-run defeat in the league on Saturday.
Stand bowler Rick Valentine claimed six for 54 in 14 overs, but that fine spell still couldn't prevent Milnrow from recording their highest score of the season so far of 198.
Professional Clinton Perren and Chris Abrahams were the mainstays of that score with 40 and 41 respectively.
Inman top scored for Stand in their reply with 42, but despite being punished for not bowling their 50 overs in the allocated time of three hours and five minutes they still finished a long way short of that record Milnrow score.
CLL SCOREBOARDS
ROCHDALE v UNSWORTH
Rochdale
Wilcock c and b Levy...15
Cryer c Barlow b Wanansinghe...3
De Vos b Levy...47
Henderson c Webb b Levy...20
P Butterworth c Barlow b Levy...0
Anwar c and b Levy...12
M Butterworth b Levy...6
Oldfield b Levy...4
Bux b Wanansinghe...24
Jackson not out...0
Extras...22
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Total...153
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48.2 overs
Wanansinghe 20-7-36-3; Howarth 5-2-17-0; Levy 15.2-3-61-7; Saeed 6-0-17-0; Sohail 2-0-14-0.
Unsworth
Entwistle b Henderson...8
Webb c P Butterworth b Henderson...0
Saeed c Oldfield b Avery...17
Wanansinghe c Oldfield b De Vos...29
Manly run out...13
Joynes c Wilcock b De Vos...4
Joynson b Avery...5
Howarth run out...1
Barber b Avery...12
Sohail st Oldfield b De Vos...11
Levy not out...2
Extras...19
---
Total...121
---
47 overs
Bux 10-4-23-0; Henderson 7-2-13-2; Avery 16-3-43-3; De Vos 14-2-33-3.
MILNROW v STAND
Milnrow
Power run out...2
Hall b Hegg...15
Perren c Inman b Valentine...40
Forden c Bond b Valentine...23
Hill lbw Valentine...0
Storey c Warren b Valentine...11
Abrahams c Warren B Valentine...41
Butler b Warren...24
Lane c Moorhead b Valentine...4
Royds not out...4
Jones b Warren...1
Extras...33
---
Total...198
---
49.4 overs
Duerden 6-0-13-0; Hegg 17-4-41-1; Warren 9.4-0-55-2; Valentine 14-0-54-6; Sutcliffe 3-0-24-0.
Stand
Bond b Storey...20
Pencheon c Storey b Perren...0
Hegg c Power b Lane...2
Airey lbw Perren...0
Warren b Storey...18
McLean b Lane...0
Inman c Perren B Hill...42
Valentine b Storey...12
Moorhead b Storey...0
Sutcliffe lbw Hill...0
Duerden not out...7
Extras...25
---
Total...126
---
41.2 overs
Perren 11-5-15-2; Lane 13-6-16-2; Storey 9.2-1-49-4; Royds 4-0-26-0; Hill 4-0-10-2.
UNSWORTH v RADCLIFFE
Wood Cup
Quarter-final
Unsworth
P Entwistle c Shah b Holt...34
N Webb b Shah...23
P Wanansinghe run out...16
A Saeed st Macauley b Holt...10
P Manley c Macauley b Holt...12
G Jones b Holt...0
M Manley c McLean b Kennedy...20
S Barlow lbw Kennedy...1
A Howarth not out...4
M Sohail not out...2
Extras...17
---
Total (for 8)...139
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50 overs
J McLean 4-0-27-0; S Shah 10-2-21-1; S Dearden 6-0-13-0; N Kennedy 10-1-21-2; S Holt 10-3-22-4; S Kelley 10-0-30-0.
Radcliffe
T Birt c Barlow b Levy...15
D Keegan lbw Howarth...6
G Simpson b Wanansinghe...0
R Heaton not out...8
S Dearden not out...1
Extras...15
---
Total (for 3)...45
---
20.2 overs
A Howarth 10-2-26-1; G Levy 6-2-10-1; P Wanasinghe 4-2-4-1; A Saeed 0.2-0-1-0.
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