AFTER starting the season as if he had forgotten how to hold a bat, Shawn Flegler finally tapped into his rich talent against Accrington at West End.

The Queenslander, whose previous three innings had amounted to an insignificant 35, went through the Accrington attack like a wrecking ball through a condemned building.

In less then three hours, Flegler struck seven mighty sixes, 11 fours and 159 runs to push Lowerhouse to a total, never even remotely threatened, of 237 for six.

With four games played, Lowerhouse are now the only side to have taken maximum points and lie comfortably at the top of the Lancashire League.

Two boundaries off his final two balls also took Flegler past Kirti Azad's total of 154 against Haslingden in 1984 to establish a new post-war record innings by a Lowerhouse professional.

For a man who had woken up yesterday morning with a sore head (Lowerhouse wicketkeeper Andy Chippendale was married on Saturday), it was some achievement.

"I have to admit that I was helped by a few dropped catches," said Flegler who, characteristically, was more thrilled by victory for his team than his own personal triumph.

"But you ride your luck in this game. "It was important for me to get a good score after some rather poor knocks so far this season.

"I was a bit impatient in my first two innings, getting out to balls I should not have got out to.

"On Saturday, however, I was victim to a good bowl.

"So it's nice to have put a good total together and now I can confidently look forward to the rest of the season."

The same, sadly, cannot be said of Accrington whose young side have still to secure their first point in the league.

And, on analysis of yesterday's display, it is difficult to see exactly where any will come from.

They will certainly require a more substantial contribution from their South African pro, Chad Grainger, who claimed just one wicket and went meekly for a duck. His disappointment was instantly visible, indicating at least that his expectations stretch far beyond what his performances have so far yielded.

"Of course it was disappointing because if I had got in on that wicket I would have fancied my chances of getting quite a few runs," said the 23-year-old from Transvaal.

"It was the best wicket I've played on here - it wasn't popping.

"But they bowled well. They bowled straight."

Flegler came to the crease in the third over and by the 25th had blasted his way to a half century and hauled Lowerhouse to 95 for three. Crucially, in the 30th over, he was dropped by Wayne Roberts who met the ball at a comfortable height but failed to cling onto it.

He was dropped again on 145 but, by this stage, the damage was done.

Accrington, in reply, showed little urgency in chasing Lowerhouse's total and had only crept to 33 by the time Paul Barratt was dismissed leg before in the 11th over.

Lowerhouse continued to keep it tight and eventually the visitors crumbled.

Flegler came within a whisker of his hat-trick in the 32nd over when, after eliminating Asad Akram and Scott Greaves, an appeal for Leonard Dewhurst's wicket was flatly turned down by the umpire.

He went soon after to leave Lowerhouse clear breathing space at the top.

Accrington, on the other hand, are struggling to catch wind.

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