Harling heroics prove in vain for Rochdale

MICHAEL Harling’s superb six-wicket haul at Lowerhouse was all in vain as Rochdale lost by three wickets in a low scoring but pulsating game.

Having posted only 119, Harling set about the Lowerhouse batters with great gusto, picking up six wickets in a superb spell of seam bowling.

He had four bowled, one lbw and another brilliantly caught by Oli Makin at slip.

But it was Lowerhouse professional South African Ockert Erasmus who saw his team home with an unbeaten 57 to put Lowerhouse through to play Clitheroe in the quarter final of the LCB Cup.

Rochdale were always playing catch up after losing early wickets and only a 67-partnership between Jack Avery and Kelton Aughey, and a late cameo by Derek Faulkner, pushed the score over the century mark and gave them something to bowl at.

Harling’s fantastic spell reduced the home side to 40-6 but none of the other Rochdale bowlers could manage to prise Erasmus out and so ended the campaign for another year. Rochdale J Avery c Erasmus b Oake ............................ 48 B Chapman c J Martin b Oake ...................... 0 H Cooper c Barlow b Oake ............................. 2 A Dawson c Heap b Oake ............................... 0 M Harling c Erasmaus b Hussain ................. 2 K Aughey c Hugil b Oake ............................. 20 O Makin c Halstead b Heap ............................ 5 D Faulkner b Heap .......................................... 20 J O Neill c P Martin b Heap ............................. 2 D Highton c Halstaed b Heap ....................... 2 M Bux not out ....................................................... 1 Extras ..................................................................... 17 Total ao 43.2 overs .......................................... 119 J Page 5 1 10 0, J Oake 9 2 32 5, T Hussain 8 4 14 1, J Halstead 2 0 11 0, B Heap 6.2 0 21 4, O Erasmus 5 1 18 0, P Martin 8 2 11 0 Lowerhouse B Heap c Makin b Harling ............................... 2 D Barlow LBW Harling ................................... 15 O Erasmus not out .......................................... 57 J Halstead c Chapman b Harling ................. 4 P Martin b Harling .............................................. 0 J Oake b Harling .................................................. 4 C Bleazard b Harling .......................................... 2 A Hugill b Makin ............................................... 24 T Hussain not out ................................................ 4 Extras ..................................................................... 10

Total for seven wickets 32.4 overs ........... 122

Bowling: M Bux 9 3 29 0, M Harling 9 2 30 6, O Makin 7.4 0 41 1, B Chapman 4 0 11 0, D Highton 3 1 6 0