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Accrington Cricket Club
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Church 133-8, Accrington 122
16th August 1987

A fine innings of 64 by sub professional Ian Austin proved to be in vain as Accrington went down to an 11 run defeat at the hands of local rivals Church at West End. The home side made 133-8 and then bowled Accrington out for 122. Church openers Gerard Metcalf and Roger Watson put on 27 after the home side had been asked to bat. Watson became the first of four run outs in the Church innings after making 11. Professional Wayne Andrews went the same way after making 20 with the score on 66. Skipper Steve Metcalf was the first of four victims for Accrington skipper Alan Worsick, caught by Graham Beech for 2 at 83. Worsick made it two in two with a first ball dismissal of Dave Gilrane. Opener Gerard Metcalf was finally dismissed at 119, run out after making 68 from 120 balls, including ten fours. Worsick then took the wickets of wicketkeeper Paul Swarbrick (15) and Nick Westwell (0) in his ninth over. Run out victim number four was Tommy George at 120. Ken Fergusson (7 not out) and Ian Osborne (3 not out) took the total to 133-8 at the end of the 46 overs. Worsick finished with 4-34. The run out curse then hit Accrington with opener Nick Marsh falling for 4 with the score on 9. Geoff Hayhurst (4) was caught and bowled by Westwell at 22 and without addition Graham Beech fell to David Ainsworth for 11. Andrews snapped up Billy Rawstron (2) and Neil Barnes (2) to have the visitors in trouble on 43-5. Paul Barratt helped Austin take the score to 89 before Ainsworth struck again. Andrews then had Jim Stevenson stumped by Swarbrick without scoring at 101 and 15 runs later he claimed the vital wicket of Austin for 64. Austin faced 77 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes. Worsick fell to Ainsworth one run later and Andrews sealed victory by bowling last man Ian Birtwistle for 4, leaving Martin Whittle stranded on 12 not out. Andrews took a match winning 5-48 and Ainsworth 3-48 from 23 overs. Scorecard

If you have any memories of 1987 please email Nigel Stockley