Double delight
FOSTERS LANCASHIRE LEAGUE CRICKET SHELDAN KEAY
IT was a good 24 hours for CHURCH in the Lancashire League after they won both of their matches during the double-header weekend.
They emphatically defeated Ramsbottom by nine wickets on Saturday, before following that up with a 53 win against Colne on Sunday.
Ramsbottom batted first in the match against Church at Acre Bottom, but struggled to make any real impact, with only Fraser Kay (34) and Simon Read (22) managing to reach double figures.
The remaining nine batsmen could make just nine runs between them, meaning Ramsbottom were bowled all out for just 72.
It was an easy run chase for Church, as professional Zain Abbas scored 39 while Josh Scully added an unbeaten 21 to help their side reach the total after just 13 overs.
Sunday’s game saw Church bat first, but they struggled with the bat and only managed to make 128 before they were bowled all out.
Josh Scully top scored with 63 while Sam Holt added 30, but their nine other teammates finished with scores of 10 or less.
It was a favourable target for Colne to chase, but they failed to take advantage as they were bowled all out for just 75.
Levi Wolfenden took figures of 5-31, while Hassan Fazal also impressed by finishing on 4-25.
ACCRINGTON had a mixed weekend after winning one of their matches, losing to Burnley by eight wickets on Saturday before following that up with a narrow one-run win against Bacup on Sunday.
Accrington won the toss and decided to bat first against Burnley, but their batsmen struggled and they were 41-8 at one stage. Sam Bancroft (28) and James Hayhurst (17) managed to add to the total at the back of the order as Accrington finished all out on 90.
It was an easy chase for Burnley, with professional Chris Holt top scoring on 57 not out to help his team reach the target after just 14 overs.
Once again Accrington batted first in the game against Bacup on Sunday, and they finished on 155 at the end of their innings.
It could have been a lower score if it hadn’t been for an unbeaten 59 from Graeme Sneddon towards the end of the order.
It looked like Bacup were well on course to victory when they were 110-2 at one stage after good work from Matthew Schofield (48) and Kemm (39), but a big collapse soon followed.
The remaining eight batsmen made just 26 between them, with the final wicket falling while Bacup needed just two runs to win, meaning Accrington picked up a nail-biting win.
ENFIELD had a disappointing 24 hours as they lost both of their matches, losing by 83 runs at home to Darwen on Sunday and then by five wickets against Nelson on Sunday.
Enfield won the toss and decided to field first against Darwen, with the visitors finishing on 219-6 at the end of their innings after Jordan Clarke made an unbeaten century.
Dharaka Ravi Teja scored 65 not out for Enfield in reply, but only one of his teammates made double figures as they were bowled all out for 136.
More disappointment followed against Nelson on Sunday, with Enfield batting first and finishing on 150 all out.
Nelson successfully chased the target with 15 overs to spare after David Crotty led them to victory with a top score of 76.
RISHTON had just one game over the weekend as they lost to Ramsbottom by 50 runs at Blackburn Road.
Ramsbottom were first