Accrington Cricket Club
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Lancashire League
East Lancs v Accrington
Sunday September 7th 1975

Defeat at East Lancs meant that Accrington had to wait until the final match of the season to clinch the title after Burnley beat Rishton to close the gap to 4 points. East Lancs professional Kerry O'Keeffe proved to be the match winner hitting an unbeaten 51 and then taking 4-42 to dismiss Accrington for 89 to earn a 53 run win for the Blackburn side. O'Keeffe created a new club record during his innings, passing Peter Philpott's record of 956 runs set in 1962. Jim Kenyon also played his part in ensuring that the destination of the title won't be decided until the final match with a spell of 4-10 to destroy Accrington's lower order after O'Keeffe and George Baron (2-20) had made early inroads. Brian Ratcliffe made 40 before Ian Birtwistle took a superb diving catch one handed to end his innings, but David Adams made 23 to help O'Keeffe take the score to 143-5. Geoff Hayhurst looked in good touch taking two boundaries off Dick Grogan's second and last over before becoming O'Keeffe's first victim for 21. George Baron won lbw decisions against Graham Beech (6) and John Swanney (7)but Alan Richardson and Malcolm Taylor, batting with five stitches in a leg wound sustained whilst fielding, put on 28 before O'Keeffe bowled Taylor for 15. Enter Jim Kenyon to clean bowl Worsick, Peter West, Birtwistle and Tony Gallagher as Accrington slumped from 68-3 to 77-6. Richardson struck a mighty six off the Australian leg spinner, but O'Keeffe had the last word having the burley left hander caught behind for 25 and the end soon followed. Accrington go into the final match needing a victory against a Colne side fresh from three successive wins.

Venue: Alexandra Meadows, Blackburn
Duration: 34 x 8 ball overs
East Lancs
B. Ratcliffe (c)
c+b Birtwistle
40
W. Cooper
c Taylor b Worsick
5
J. Kenyon
c Neville b Worsick
6
K. O'Keeffe (P)
Not out
51
D. Adams (wk)
Run out
23
D. Hollinrake
c Swanney b Worsick
0
J. Eatough
Not out
13
R. Grogan    
G. Baron    
R. Sharp    
 
 
Extras
5
Total
143-5
Bowling
O
M
R
W
A. Worsick (P)
13
1
54
3
D. Parsons
5
0
18
0
I. Birtwistle
9
1
26
1
A. Gallagher
7
1
40
0
Accrington
G. Hayhurst
c Adams b O'Keeffe
21
G. Beech
lbw Baron
6
J. Swanney
lbw Baron
7
A. Richardson
c Adams b O'Keeffe
25
M. Taylor
b O'Keeffe
15
P. West (c)
b Kenyon
5
A. Worsick (P)
b Kenyon
0
I. Birtwistle
b Kenyon
0
A. Gallagher
b Kenyon
1
T. Neville (wk)
c Sharp b O'Keeffe
5
D. Parsons
Not out
0
Extras
4
Total
89
Bowling
O
M
R
W
G. Baron
8
2
20
2
R. Grogan
2
0
13
0
K. O'Keeffe (P)
11.3
1
42
4
J. Kenyon
6
2
10
4
East Lancs beat Accrington by 54 runs

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