Accrington 1st XI 2012 ©Nigel Stockley

With Lowerhouse failing to pick up the bonus points, Accrington closed the gap to 8 points after a 9 wicket win over Rishton at Thorneyholme Road. It was high fives all round for the home side with skipper Graham Lloyd picking up five catches and bowlers Jimmy Hayhurst and Ashar Zaidi both picking up five wickets to bowl Rishton out for 71 which left Accrington at the top of the table for three hours after an early finish. After David Ormerod decided on a change of ends that never happened after his first over to let in Hayhurst and Zaidi bowling in tandem to cause mayhem in the Rishton ranks. Zaidi picked up his opposite number Daniel Salpietro in his first over before the Rishton professional had scored to spark a collapse that saw the visitors slip to 11-4 and 34-9. After skipper Jimmy Bibby had made a valiant 14 in his penultimate innings before retiring, it was left to Scott Greaves to salvage some pride for the visitors against his former club. Greaves hit an unbeaten 31 with three fours and a six, adding 37 for the last wicket with David Curran who made 3. Hayhurst took 5-31, including his 200th league wicket for the club, and Zaidi 5-25. Lloyd's five catches make him the leading amateur outfielder with 14 catches for the season. He is also the first Accrington amateur to take five catches in an innings apart from a wicketkeeper. The home professional then hit an unbeaten 36 from just 23 balls with seven fours after the loss of Marley Ali (8) to Greaves at 20. Stuart Crabtree was also unbeaten on 17 to ensure that his side take the title race into the last day.