Accrington Cricket Club
Latest

Accrington v Lowerhouse
Saturday August 27th 2011

Thwaites Wainwright Lancashire League
Saturday August 27th Score Score
Accrington 155 Lowerhouse 132
Scorecard Table
Accrington (12pts) beat Lowerhouse (5pts) by 23 runs


Graham hits out
Graham hits out
©Nigel Stockley

Accrington managed to slow down leaders Lowerhouse's march to the title with a 23 run win at Thorneyholme Road. A win for Jimmy Hayhurst's second placed team looked unlikely when the home side slipped from 19-1 to 44-6 with a combination of good bowling and poor shot selection. Openers Simon Hanson and the skipper himself put on 19 when Hanson was trapped lbw by Fergus Bailey (3-38). Hayhurst followed without addition trapped by Lowerhouse professional Francois Haasbroek for 11. The South African then cleaned up Stuart Crabtree 4 runs later. Home professional Ashar Zaidi made just 7 of the 22 runs he needed for 1,000 before chipping Bailey to Jonny Russell who held a fine running catch at mid on. The Pakistani went off to physio for treatment to a knee injury that will keep him out of Sunday's match at Haslingden. He will be replaced by Morecambe professional Anwar Ali. Bailey then picked up Graeme Sneddon for 12 when the left hander chipped him to Joe Beneduce at mid off. Haasbroek picked up his 3rd wicket when Mitch Taylor was caught in the gulley by Chris Bleazard and Accrington were staring down the barrell at 44-6. Graham Lloyd and Matt Wilson then rebuilt the innings with a match winning partnership of 85 for the 7th wicket. Wilson hit three fours and a six in making a season's best 35 from 66 balls. Andy Greenwood (9) then helped Lloyd add 22 before bringing Bleazard into the game at gulley again. Lloyd fell in Haasbroek's last over of the innings for 55, including seven fours and passing 500 runs for the season, from 96 balls. Bryn Hargreaves was then cleaned up by the South African to give Lowerhouse 2 vital bowling points. Haasbroek finished with 7-57 from 19.5 overs and Accrington were all out for 155. Hayhurst picked up Joe Martin without scoring and then Jon Finch marked his return by falling to a freak dismissal. The all rounder pulled David Ormerod towards short leg where the fielder Sneddon was hit on the shoulder taking evasive action. The ball ballooned up and the quick thinking wicketkeeper Wilson dived to hold the catch. Hayhurst then had Ben Heap brilliantly caught by Zaidi at slip for 16, passing 500 runs for the season, and Ormerod ended the agony of Haasbroek who struggled for 19 scoreless balls before losing his leg stump after being befuddled by the evergreen seamer. Bleazard and Bailey took the score from 34 to 66 when the veteran lofted the limping Zaidi to the long on boundary where Taylor took a good catch. Bailey was stumped by Wilson for 11 but skipper Charlie Cottam and Paddy Martin fought back to take Lowerhouse into bonus points territory. Martin was trapped lbw by Zaidi for a top score of 25 and then the Pakistani bowled Cottam for 16 to virtually assure victory for Accrington. Matt Walker was well caught at long on by Greenwood and Russell was caught at deep mid wicket by Hanson in the final over to give Accrington 12 vital points and Zaidi his fifth wicket. The left armer took 5-39 and Ormerod 3-50 in a match that was reduced to 47 overs a-side.