Accrington Senior Squad 2010 ©Nigel Stockley

Match of the day and possibly of the season was at Colne where the home side notched their first league win of the season after a titanic struggle with champions Accrington. A routine first innings saw Colne bowled out for 189 with Paul Carroll taking 6-66, his second six wicket haul against Colne. Professional Anwar Ali top scored with 47, Lewis Rimmer upped his career best knock to 38, John Lambert hit a vital 26 at number ten and Jeff Ellis made 23 in an opening stand of 62 with Rimmer. Rain reduced Accrington's target to 175 from 45 overs. Ali was soon into his stride knocking over Graeme Sneddon with his first ball. He had his opposite number Will Driver caught behind by Sam Tillotson for 15 and then he sent back Graham Lloyd for 1. Stuart Crabtree became Ellis' (3-47) first victim and the former Colne skipper struck again in quick succession to send back Matt Wilson (8) and James Ormerod (0) to have the champions reply in ruins at 45-6. Young opener Simon Hanson watched the mayhem unfold at the other end but he stood firm and at last he found a partner in Carroll (11) who helped him take the score to 73 before he was bowled by Ali. Hanson's fine innings of 41 ended when he fell to the Ali-Tillotson combination after adding 53 for the 8th wicket with Jimmy Hayhurst. Skipper David Ormerod then helped Hayhurst add 45 for the 9th wicket as the match incredibly began to turn Accrington's way. Just 4 runs were needed for an incredible victory when Ali (6-70) suddenly turned the match on it's head by removing Hayhurst for a career best 46 with a fine catch off his own bowling with the last ball of the 43rd over. The skipper then tickled Lambert's second ball of the penultimate over into the gloves of Tillotson to spark wild celebrations amongst the home sides players and supporters