Bragging rights go to Church on opening day
CHURCH & Oswaldtwistle got their 2022 Lancashire League campaign off to a winning start as they claimed local bragging rights over neighbours Accrington on the opening day of the season.
The Easter Sunday Senior Division 2 clash at Accrington went the way of the visitors, who claimed a four-wicket win after winning the toss and electing to field first.
It proved a wise move as they dismissed the home side for 160, Accy opener Stuart Crabtree top-scoring with 37 off 53 balls before he was bowled by Kelan Floentine.
That left the home side 62-2, fellow opener Simon
Hanson having been sent back to the pavilion without scoring after facing ten balls – he was caught by Levi Wolfenden off the bowling of Andrew Bentley.
Ben Gorton (26) and Connor Tattersall (21) put up some resistance, but the total of 160 looked achievable for the visitors.
And so it proved. Church made a solid start, reaching 63 before Sam Holt fell for 38 off Simon Hanson’s bowling.
Hanson followed that up with the wicket of Craig Fergusson (17) but Sagar Vijay Trivedi and Wolfenden (28) moved the score on to 138 before the latter was caught by Hanson off Jacob Clarke.
Four runs later Trivedi (43) was bowled by Clarke but 14 runs from Joshua Scully and Florentine’s unbeaten nine proved sufficient to ease Church over the winning line.
The result saw Church take 12 points with home side Accrington collecting two.
Elsewhere, Rishton were beaten by two wickets at Bacup. Having lost the toss and been inserted to bat first, they hit 106, Jack Edgar (31) top-scoring for the visitors.
Bacup didn’t find it much easier with the bat themselves but Neil Hornbuckle’s 25 and 18 from Jack Bradford proved crucial. Bacup took 12 points, Rishton four.
Great Harwood lost out on their home patch to Crompton despite winning the toss and electing to field first. Crompton set a lofty target of 230 from their allocated overs, Harry Dean hitting 75, Mohammed Jamal 48 and Denis Louis 32.
Allan Armer’s knock of 30 was as good as it got for the home side, who ended the day pointless.
Littleborough beat Colne by six wickets while East Lancashire won by 44 runs at Nelson.
In the game at Rawtenstall, Enfield picked up 12 points after winning by 12 runs.
In the Senior Division 1 it went the way of the home sides with only one exception – Lowerhouse winning by two wickets at Ramsbottom.
Burnley won by 67 runs at home against Greenmount, Clitheroe beat
Todmorden by 192 runs, Darwen saw off Rochdale by 49 runs, Norden beat Middleton by eight wickets and Walsden won their game against Haslingden by seven wickets.
This Sunday (April 24th) in Division 2, Church entertain Great Harwood, Accrington go to East Lancs while Rishton play host to Rawtenstall.
Enfield are home to Littleborough, Bacup go to Crompton and Nelson are at Colne.
In the top flight, Greenmount host Ramsbottom, Haslingden entertain Norden, Walsden are at Lowerhouse and Darwen go to Middleton.
Rochdale entertain Clitheroe while Todmorden are at home against Burnley.