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Accrington v Lowerhouse
Accrington won the Lancashire League title after beating 2012 champions Lowerhouse by 40 runs at Thorneyholme Road. Graham Lloyd's team made sure of clinching their eighth league title when they took Lowerhouse's 9th wicket after Burnley had beaten Ramsbottom earlier to leave Accrington needing just 5 points for the title. The home side made 193-9 with solid knocks from professional Ashar Zaidi who made 43 from 51 balls with five fours and a six, Stuart Crabtree (35 from 45 balls with four sixes), Aijaz Shah (30), skipper Lloyd 18, Simon Hanson 17 and Sam Excell 15. Lowerhouse professional Francois Haasbroek took 4-40, including his 50th wicket of the season. Jimmy Hayhurst sent back Joe Hawke (1) with just a single on the board and then David Ormerod trapped both Ben Heap and Haasbroek lbw and a smart piece of stumping by Matt Wilson accounted for Jonny Whitehead (10) to leave Lowerhouse 33-4. A 5th wicket stand of 53 by Matt Walker (30) and Paddy Martin (26) ended when Walker was run out. Martin was caught by the diving Crabtree at cover from a leading edge off Zaidi who then picked up skipper Charlie Cottam at 99. Hanson had Fergus Bailey well caught at long off by Excell and when Chris Bleazard was bowled by Zaidi for 36, Accrington claimed the title with four matches to play. Lowerhouse ended on 144-9 with Ormerod (3-15 from 13 overs) and Zaidi (3-49) taking 3 wickets apiece. The outgoing champions sportingly lined to to clap their successors off the field after the match. Skipper Graham Lloyd said: "We've been rewarded for a good effort all year. The players have been well motivated and have played well all year. We've made it very difficult for the opposition. We've had a great team spirit with some very talented players and I think that we have come out worthy winners. Ash is a terrific professional and somebody is going to end up with a top class man next year. He's had three fabulous seasons with us, we've finished second twice and win it this time. He turns up week in and week out, he's very popular with the lads and he leaves us with our best wishes."
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