Accrington v Lowerhouse
Monday May 27th 1996

Lancashire League
Monday May 27th	Score		Score
Accrington	122-7	Lowerhouse	123-8
Scorecard
Lowerhouse (4pts) beat Accrington (0pts) by 1 run

Accrington 1st XI 1996

League leaders Lowerhouse inflicted a seventh straight league defeat of the season on bottom club Accrington with a tense 1 run win at Thorneyholme Road on Bank Holiday Monday. Professional Chad Grainger took a league 5-37 with Chris Bleazard top scoring with 51 in Lowerhouse's 123-8 in a 43 overs a-side game. Grainger sent back openers Stan Heaton (0) and Nick Hope (2) to have the leaders 5-2. When Grainger also removed his opposite number Shawn Flegler (19) and John Procter (0) Lowerhouse were in deep trouble on 33-4. Making his league debut, Charlie Cottam (5) helped Bleazard take the score to 60 but he became Grainger's fifth victim when he was caught by Len Dewhurst. Bleazard added 23 with skipper Gary Moorhouse before falling to Azad Akram for 51, made from 105 balls and including one four and one six. Moorhouse followed, caught by Wayne Roberts off Akram for 18 at 102. One run later Scott Greaves cleaned up Jez Hope for 5. Matt Hope (16 not out) and wicketkeeper Andy Chippendale (4 not out) took the score to 123 when the innings closed after 43 overs. Openers Mark Stevenson and Paul Barratt got Accrington off to a solid start with a stand of 42 which was broken by Matt Hope in the 24th over when he cleaned up Barratt for 21. Grainger upped the tempo with 29 from 33 balls before falling to Jez Hope in the 33rd over with 92 on the board. Russell Edmonds was bowled by Matt Hope without addition. Jez Hope snapped up Martin Whittle (1) at 95 and skipper Brian Holmes (2) fell to Matt Hope at 99. Matt Hope sent back Tofeeq Khan (9) and Roberts (0) in successive balls at 115 in the penultimate over. With seven runs needed from the final over Jez Hope conceded five giving Lowerhouse the narrowest of wins. Stevenson finished unbeaten on a league best 46 from 114 balls, including one six.