Kemm century

NEAL WILKINSON & SHELDAN KEAY

BACUP came up short in the Lancashire League over the weekend after a narrow two-wicket defeat to Burnley at Lanehead.

After a late start due to the overnight rain, Burnley won the toss and asked Bacup to bat.

Bacup professional Ernest Kemm, in his last game for Bacup before returning to South Africa, batted throughout the reduced 45 over innings for 104 not out.

Remarkably, this was the very same score that Ernie got in his first game for Bacup in the tied match against Clitheroe in April 2017.

Matt Schofield with a well compiled 44 helped him to put on a century partnership for the second wicket.

Perhaps Bacup should have pushed on and scored in excess of 200, but nevertheless 194 for 6 represented a decent total in the conditions.

In the chase, it always looked likely to be a tight finish. Sam Lord took 3 for 42 in 12 overs and Kemm also impressed in the field taking 3 for 41 in his 15 overs in addition to two excellent catches.

With the score on 170 for 8, Bacup perhaps looked favourites.

However, a ninth wicket partnership of 27 between wicketkeeper Chris Burton and Matt Roberts took Burnley to victory with just three balls to spare.

It left the Bacup lads to rue dropping David Brown early in his innings before he went on to make a telling contribution of 44.

Four bonus bowling points were of some consolation for a decent display.

The second eleven travelled to Turf Moor where Burnley racked up a score of 257 for 7 with Matt Aspinall picking up 3 wickets.

The reply was led by Adam Highley who hit a blistering 75 but on his departure Bacup ran out of steam and were dismissed for a very creditable 220 gaining two batting bonus points.

RAMSBOTTOM continued their fantastic season after a comfortable 96 run victory against Littleborough at Acre Bottom.

Littleborough won the toss and chose to bowl first in overcast conditions with a damp outfield but with a good batting wicket to tackle.

The opening spell by Smith Butler and Miskella mirrored the warm up and they both served up a four ball in most of their opening overs. The Ramsbottom opening pair coasted to 76 before Kaber dismissed Parton lbw for 38. This brought Udwadia to the crease and he played the innings of the game with an excellent 83 off 89 balls including 10 fours, barely wasting a ball running as he ran the visitors ragged in the vast outfield.

Fielding made a fine 61 also before he fell to a catch by Pye off Smith Butler for the first of his three wickets.

Cropper chipped in with a run a ball 33 as the innings closed on 269-7. Kaber was the pick of the bowlers with 4-68 and Smith Butler finished with 3-71.

Hernon and Smith Butler opened the innings and both looked very comfortable until umpire Henderson failed to hear or see Hernon hit the ball and was adjudged lbw to Fielding for four.

Willis joined Smith Butler and they found the home attack to their liking as they coasted to 57 before Smith Butler wasted a solid start and was out caught and bowled for 22. Kaber looked out of sorts and played a poor shot to fall for 4, stumped off Fielding to leave the visitors 66-3.

Willis was joined Miskella and they both looked in no trouble at all before Willis charged down the ●● Ramsbottom batsman Werner Coetsee wicket and was stumped for a well made 35, although he felt he had got back and let himself down by questioning the decision by umpire Henderson and will find himself in hot water for his actions.

This left Miskella to be joined by Nash and he helped himself to his third 50 of the season, going to his half century with a towering six off Coetsee and it came as a surprise