THE fact that Roger Harper's stupendous innings counted for nothing was a tragedy.

The reason it counted for nothing was almost entirely his own side's fault.

Bacup needed to complete just one more over to make the match valid before the rains came.

With Rishton struggling at 116 for five, the Bacup superiority was emphatic.

And for a neutral Lancashire League supporter, it was the desired result to blow the title race wide open again.

Yet Bacup approached their final few overs with all the urgency of a snail on sedatives.

There was even a case for Terry Lord deliberately dropping John Seedle in Harper's final over in order avoid delay and ensure the vital 27th over was completed.

With the drizzle becoming more menacing and ominous clouds poised to empty their gallons, the umpires had little choice but to bring the players off the field.

And the desire to honour Harper's innings with a victory should have made the Bacup approach all the more pressing.

His 163 not out in a total of 269, against the fastest bowler in the world, and from just 41 overs was mesmerising.

Harper's 50 came in just 25 balls, his 100 in 60 and his 150 in just 98 balls.

The innings included 21 fours, seven sixes in a total of 103 balls, his highest in the league beating his previous best of 130 against Enfield two seasons ago.

Yet this was nothing more than controlled aggressive strokeplay.

The West Indian had obviously plotted to take the attack to Allan Donald on an easy-paced track.

Anything short he pulled or cut with a graceful swat.

Anything over-pitched and he drove with majesty.

Rishton were guilty of over-attacking, maintaining a field of two slips and a gully for Donald well into Harper's innings.

Having gained the upper hand, Harper cemented his domination, with useful support coming from skipper Peter Thompson and Terry Lord.

The home side, leaders by eight points going into the game, looked anything but champions-elect.

Though regular players were missing, the attack looked short of depth and Rishton's batting problems are well-documented.

There is, though, a puzzling lethargy in the field and an eerie devil-may-care attitude to their outcricket.

This is not a championship-winning side.

That is not to say Rishton will not win the league.

With Donald in the side, they will win far more matches than they will lose.

But even a professional of Donald's class has an off day and, with figures of two for 119 from 21 overs. the South African will not wish to bowl on such a benign track every week.

Nor will he relish the replayed fixture programme and a rematch with the magnificent Harper.

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