Rochdale crush Boro in first League fixture

LITTLEBOROUGH’S first ever match in the Lancashire League ended in a heavy defeat to a strong looking Rochdale side.

The match was reduced to 35 overs due to the morning rain.

The home side won the toss and rather surprisingly decided to bat on a wet wicket which was probably not going to improve as the game went on.

Smith Butler and Wilman bowled tidily enough in their opening spell and Wilman picked up Chapman thanks to a good catch by keeper Hernon to leave the visitors on 26-1 with the score ticking along at three runs an over.

However, the body language was poor from the home side, with hands in pockets, walking between overs and very little verbal support for the bowlers and fielders alike.

The opening bowlers were replaced by home pro Kaber and Miskella, the latter bowled poorly and was taken off as the drizzle started to fall.

Kaber removed Avery for 40 when he looked well set. This brought Dawson to join visiting pro Moore with the score on 75 and they plundered the home attack to all parts of Hare Hill with no bowler escaping the punishment as the visitors took the game away from Littleborough.

Moore gave one very difficult chance when Miskella failed to hold onto an absolute skier. Moore finished on 99no off 72 balls and Dawson scored 53no from 40 balls.as the innings finished on 219-2

The home side’s innings started in similar fashion to the visitors as they started slowly against an accurate attack and Willis was first to fall for 4 as he fell to Oddy caught at first slip for 4 off 25 balls with the score on 17.

Littleborough pro Kaber was then bowled all ends up by from visiting skipper Harling. Miskella joined Smith Butler as they looked to take the attack to Rochdale. Both players hit towering sixes before Smith Butler holed out to mid off and Miskella fell lbw playing across the line, with both players falling to Harling.

These were the only two players to get into double figures as the rest off the innings was a procession of poor shots as the home side collapsed to a paltry 83 all out.

Harling and Makin both ending up with three wickets apiece.

Rochdale looked strong and maybe an outside bet for the title whilst Littleborough need to regroup, stick together and show some of the fighting spirit associated with Littleborough teams of the past.