Lowerhouse move within two points of summit with confident win

Dismal weather meant their away game with East Lancs was a complete washout on Saturday but conditions dried up in time for them to record 27-run win against Enfield at The Neville Gee Recruitment Ground.

It certainly wasn’t plain sailing for the West Enders who at one point were struggling at 54-8, batting first.

Fine bowling by Enfield professional Werner Coetsee (6-32) and Hassan Fazal (2-37) put Lowerhouse in the far from enviable position but Declan Bailey gave his side hope with a maiden senior half century.

He hit seven fours for his 52 in a ninth wicket stand of 86 with Chris Bleazard who made 35 before being last man out on 14.

Liam Bedford (20) and Luke Wright (15) put on 29 before both falling to Joe Hawke (2-29) and then Fergus Bailey trapped Coetsee for five to put Lowerhouse back in the match.

Captain Adam Bracewell made 29 and Tiaran Hamill 21 but with home professional Cobus Pienaar taking 4-34 the visitors never really got a foothold and were dismissed for 117.

Sunday saw Burnley travel to the reigning champions looking to get there season started with a first victory but unfortunately are still waiting for that elusive win despite a thriller of a game which went down to the last over.

Batting first Burnley started well with Dan Pickup (23) and Chris Burton setting a good platform in an opening partnership of 51 but then there was a collapse which left the away side 82-4. Steve Brunt joined Burton and started upping the tempo and were looking to cut loose in the last 10 overs but Brunt holed out to the visiting professional for 25, Matt Tomlinson (11) helped continue the momentum but it was Burton who held the innings together with a hard fought 54 in a total of 163 on a slow and green wicket.

In reply Burnley made early inroads with Cole Hayman sending back Jon Hayhurst first ball and Graham Lalor getting in on the act to leave the home side on 26-2 but it was the missed chance in the slips off Hayman of the eventual match winner Simon Hanson which ultimately proved decisive. Hanson batted until the penultimate over for 72 to take Accrington to the verge of victory which they achieve in the last over. This was despite Lalor taking 2-39 off a 15 over spell including the professional Ockert Erasmus for 17 and Jhangir Liaqat who took 1-22 off the last 5 overs of the innings.

Next week sees a triple header with the second 2020 at Lowerhouse on Friday night and the quarter final of the Worsley cup on Saturday at Todmorden, followed by Todmorden in the league at home on Sunday..

• Lowerhouse CC have had to concede their LCB second round cup to Westhoughton due to a lack of dates on which to play the game .