Erasmus inspires Accy’s drive to top
CRICKET MATT JONES
ACCRINGTON moved to the top of the Blond Witch T20 Group after they thrashed Bacup by nine wickets at Thorneyholme Road.
Bacup won the toss and decided to bat. Jimmy Hayhurst took 3-20 off four overs, professional Ockert Erasmus 2-9 and Keiran Grimshaw 2-20 as Accrington restricted Bacup to 103-9.
Professional Haseeb Azam top scored with 35, while Matt Thompson added 24 and Chris Gansler 13.
Erasmus then hit an unbeaten 50 coming off 21 balls, including six fours and two sixes, as Accrington reached Bacup’s target in 11.5 overs.
Ali Hasham (21) was the only batsman to depart as he was removed by Matt Thompson (1-35). Stuart Crabtree hit an unbeaten 21.
Church saw off Nelson in a seven-wicket win at Blackburn Road.
Nelson won the toss and choose to bat, professional Ryan Bailey top scoring with 48 while notable contributions came from Neil Thompson (16), Lewis Bradley (12) and Billy Jamil (12) as Nelson posted 125-8.
Sub professional Qaiser Abbas (2-18), Jack Gaskill (2-21) and Bilal Abbas (2-26) all took two wickets each.
Levi Wolfenden then hit 50 as Church chased down Nelson’s target in 18.3 overs. Wolfenden’s 50 contained six fours and one six.
Church found themselves in early trouble as they were 17-2 with Sam Holt (4) and Qaiser Abbas (6) both removed by Sam Halstead (2-27).
But in form Bilal Abbas hit an unbeaten 43 as he added 67 with Wolfenden for the third wicket partnership. Craig Fergusson hit an unbeaten 12.
Meanwhile, Rishton shocked Lowerhouse by four wickets at Liverpool Road. Rishton won the toss and decided to field.
Lowerhouse posted a respectable 148-4 off 20 overs, professional Dieter Klein top scoring with 41. Ben Heap also contributed with 31, while Joe Hawke added 25 and Charlie Cottam (17 not out).
Matt Lambert took (3-34) off four overs. The spin duo of Kelly Mall (0-10) and Shaun Von Berg (1-11) went for just 21 runs off eight overs as they restricted Lowerhouse. In reply, professional Von Berg top scored with 56 as Rishton got home in the last over with only one ball left.
Mo Patel added 33 as he put on 74 for the first wicket with Von Berg. Brad Boddie also contributed with 23 while Ben Bridson (20) and Matt Leathert (10 not out) also chipped in. Ben Heap took (4-34) while Paddy Martin recorded figures of (2-18) off four overs.