Lancashire
League
Ramsbottom v Accrington
Sunday August 31st
1975
An
unbeaten 66 from 18 year-old John Swanney took Accrington to another
vital victory against Ramsbottom at Acre Bottom as the race for the
championship nears its climax. Swanney was only in the side because
Graham Beech went down with flu on Friday night but he made the most
of his chance to hit over 100 runs without being dismissed over the
weekend. The home side made 134-8 after losing early wickets to Alan
Worsick and Dave Parsons with Denis Hardman hitting 33 and professional
Wasim Raja 52 but after Raja was well caught by Alan Richardson off
Ian Birtwistle wickets began to fall regularly. Three run outs at the
end of the innings left Accrington a target of 135 for victory but the
title chasers again made a terrible start losing skipper Peter West
to Terry Stewart without scoring and Geoff Hayhurst to Brian Fielding
for 9. Malcolm Taylor (16) helped Swanney take the score up to 50 before
being superbly caught one handed by Stewart off Maurice Haslam. Alan
Richardson made 14, including a big six off Raja, before falling lbw
to Stewart in the next over to leave the match poised at 75-4. Worsick
never got going and was stumped by Duncan Brooks off Raja for 11 but
Swanney accelerated to hit the winning runs with one over to spare to
take Accrington a step nearer the title with just three matches to play.
Scorecard