No pro but Dale
ROCHDALE travelled to Penrith for the fourth round of the Lancashire Federation Cup on Sunday under a severe handicap.
With Ed Moore having departed, a ludicrous law, or interpretation of it, prevented them from fielding their replacement contracted pro, Nick Kelly.
However, undaunted by this illogical imposition, Dale, with three teenagers in the team, pulled off a remarkable and memorable victory, passing the home team’s 195 for with three wickets and more than two overs to spare.
And their hero was 17 years old fledgling opening batsman Jack Pilling, who, in displaying vast powers of resolve and patience, batted throughout for an undefeated 74.
And much of the support Pilling received came from unpredicted sources. Another youngster, Haris Hussain also played with a maturity beyond his years, and the two whose partnership started with Dale on 123 for 5 and the game on a knife edge, put on 61.
Meanwhile Kabir Ahmed, summoned into the team to replace Moore, had also justified his inclusion, his fluent wristy 28 bolstering the middle order and providing much needed impetus.
Penrith, with no such professional problems, had at one point been on target for a massive total, despite losing Jon Stockdale, Alistair Craig and Chris Stockdale in the first five overs.
Their paid man Ashwin Hebbar was totally dominant. Driving crisply all round the wicket, Hebbar played faultlessly and attractively and fairly motored along at more than a run a ball.
It was a surprise to all when, on 59 Tom Avery managed to elicit a positive response from the umpire to an optimistic lbw appeal. Thereafter, and despite Greg Cameron’s highly praiseworthy 85, Dale managed to keep, just about, a lid on things.
Dale’s reply had that familiar stutter to start with and it was only when Ahmed came in that any sign of Dale dominance appeared. But when they got a grip on the game they kept hold.
Pilling overcame the loss of Ahmed and the Andrew Dawson to decisions as dodgy as Hebbar’s and, complemented by Hussain’s youthful exuberance, guided his team home.
Rochdale now travel to Darwen for the quarter final on July 21st. Scores: 45 overs. Penrith 195 for 9 (Cameron 85, Hebbar 59, T Avery 3-52). Rochdale 196 for 7 (Pilling 74 not out, Ahmed 28, Hussain 26).
After a week in which moorland blazes dominated the news, the only Moore fire hotting things up at Bacup on Saturday was generated by the bat of Rochdale professional Ed Moore who blast 132 not out in an innings which provided his side with a considerable 134 run victory.
Although he merely simmered at first, owing to the uneven nature of the dry pitch, which encouraged turn and bounce, Moore gradually turned up the heat and burst into flames during the final overs of the innings when the last 14 overs yielded 120 runs as Dale closed on 218 for 6.
And what a way it was for Moore to say farewell to his teammates – for the time being, at least.
He has been recalled to his South African state time for their pre season and left on Sunday – Rochdale have replaced him for the rest of the season with Nick Kelly, an Australian plying his trade with Northern Districts in New Zealand.
This was sort of pitch where longevity relied on some good fortune, and Moore enjoyed three slices of it. He was dropped on 56 and 91, having survived a difficult stumping chance on 41.
And Bacup were made to pay for their errors. Moore hit 14 fours and four sixes most in the dying embers of the innings. The only substan-