Lancashire League round-up

Lowerhouse stole a march on their Lancashire League rivals as they somehow beat the rain and they eked their way past Enfield to move clear of the pack on Saturday.

It was a thrilling finish at Liverpool Road as all of the Lowerhouse hard work paid off while title rivals Accrington, Todmorden and Ramsbottom were inactive.

The latter two were due to collide at Centre Vale but that was off early, as was Accrington’s home match with Burnley.

But Lowerhouse mopped up hard and got their reward.

And with all of yesterday’s programme wiped out as yet more rain swept into East Lancashire, Lowerhouse’s work in order to get their game on appears to have paid a rich dividend.

Impressive batsman Ben Heap top scored for the House as he made 63 as his side posted 124-7 from their 25 overs in their clash with Enfield at Liverpool Road.

It was a big knock from Heap as only Joe Beneduce with 14 managed double figures as Zahir Afzal claimed 4-70 for Enfield but it was still a testing target on a sodden outfield.

It seemed a target that was miles away when Haasbroek sent both Enfield skipper Adam Bracewell and then Ashley Gowers back to make it 4-2 - but the rain arrived again with the score on nine.

Lowerhouse were fearing the worst with only 18 minutes to spare before there would not be enough time to complete the mandatory 20 overs.

But the rain stopped and play re-started and Haasbroek struck again to shift Afzal before Fergus Bailey removed Saggi Hussain for six and Enfield pro Werner Coetsee for 20 and Lowerhouse were on top.

But good hitting from Joe Wrigley and David Bracewell took them to the brink before Haasbroek’s final tight over earned a four-run win.

Lancashire ace Steven Cheetham was the hero of the hour for Bacup as they beat Church in a last-ball thriller at Lanehead in the only other game to be played.

The Red Rose bowler filled in as sub professional for Bacup - and followed up a fine bowling display with an assured knock to win the game.

The ground was under water mid-morning but sterling mopping-up work allowed play to start shortly before 4pm with 26 overs per side.

It was a disastrous start for Church, though, as Adam Greenwood was caught by David Warren off Cheetham with the first ball of the game.

And it got worse for Church when pro Saeed Anwar nicked Cheethams fourth ball through to wicket-keeper Jack McGregor to leave them rocking.

Nasser Hussain was also out for a duck but Manazer Mahmood 39 and 20 from Phil Howard helped them back on track.

Joe McLuskie claimed 5-39 and Cheetham 4-40 as Church were 92 all out with three balls of their innings remaining.

As McGregor (26) and Tim Farragher (6) shared a 26 opening stand Bacup seemed to be coasting. But that 26-0 became 34-3 and the wobbles were there.

However, Cheetham batted sensibly and got great support from Matt Thompson (12) and Andrew Spencer (20).

When Spencer lost his wicket Bacup were 89-6 and on the brink. Scott Thompson lost his wicket for one and in the last over it was nervy – but Cheetham saw them home with two off the final ball.

Rishton v Colne, Nelson v Rawtenstall and Haslingden v East Lancashire were all off early in the afternoon without a ball being bowled.

Yesterday was a complete wash out with all games being called off as the rain refused to relent.

The games will now be played on Saturday, September 3.

Bacup v Church

Church innings
A Greenwood c Warren b Cheetham 0
CM Fergusson run out 15
Anwar c McGregor b Cheetham 0
N Hussain lbw b Cheetham 0
M Mehmood c S Thompson b McCluskie 39
P Howard c McGregor b McCluskie 20
MJ Gilrane c McGregor b McCluskie 0
PD Gilrane c Farragher b McCluskie 1
AJ Bentley b Cheetham 0
JP Gaskill c S Thompson b McCluskie 1
SJ Tucker not out 8
Extras 8
Total (10 wickets) 92.

Cheetham 13 2 40 4, McCluskie 9.4 1 39 5, Lord 3 0 13 0.

Bacup innings
JT McGregor c Fergusson b Bentley 16
TM Farragher b Anwar 6
H Butcher c Gaskill b Bentley 4
J McCluskie b Anwar 4
Cheetham not out 19
M Thompson c Fergusson b Bentley 12
A Spencer c Mehmood b Anwar 20
S Thompson b Anwar 0
B Lord not out 1
Extras 11
Total (7 wickets) 93.

Bentley 13 3 48 3, Anwar 13 3 39 4.

Bacup won by 3 wickets. Bacup 12 pts, Church 3 pts.

Lowerhouse v Enfield

Lowerhouse innings
BR Heap b Jackson 63
J Martin b Jackson 6
HA Khan b Afzal 3
Haasbroekb Afzal 9
CJ Bleazard c Coetsee b Afzal 5
FB Bailey b Afzal 3
J Beneduce not out 14
MJ Walker not out 8
Extras 13
Total (6 wickets) 124.

Jackson 13 0 52 2, Afzal 11 0 70 4.

Enfield innings
(Target: 108 from 20 overs)
AP Bracewell c P Martin b Haasbroek 0
A Gowers c J Martin b Haasbroek 3
Coetsee b Bailey 20
Z Afzal c Khan b Haasbroek 3
S Hussain c Bleazard b Bailey 6
LL Jackson c Russell b Bailey 15
J Wrigley not out 34
DJ Bracewell not out 5
Extras 16
Total (6 wickets) 102.

Haasbroek 10 2 29 3, Russell 6 0 43 0, Bailey 4 0 24 3.

Lowerhouse won by 5 runs on faster scoring rate. Lowerhouse 10 pts, Enfield 5 pts.