Lancashire League: Burnley have lift off (21 June 1999)

21 June 1999

Lancashire League: Burnley have lift off

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Burnley skipper Andy McLeod led from the front as the Turf Moor outfit hauled themselves off the bottom of the EW Cartons Lancashire League with their first win in five games.

McLeod claimed three stumpings as fellow strugglers Ramsbottom were restricted to 160-7.

And the captain then hit 84 from 127 balls to take his side to within two runs of victory before becoming Matthew Pascoe's fifth victim.

Ramsbottom's captain, Brian Taylor, had also done his best to help the visitors post a defendable score as he top-scored with 43, sharing 50-run stands with John Marcroft and then Pascoe.

However, the visitors' pro became one of McLeod's trio of scalps as he helped Burnley's paid man Anthony Botha, as well as Khizer Saeed, bag three wickets each.

Burnley were then in early trouble as Pascoe took wickets off successive balls in the third over, including Botha first ball from one which kept low.

But McLeod, who dropped down the order to number four, steadied the ship in a 67-run partnership with Philip Edmondson and then after the fall of two quick wickets, added a further 50 with Ian Whitehead to close in on a four-wicket win.

Lowerhouse's batting problems persisted as they were dismissed for 91 by Haslingden, who maintained their title push.

Professional Brad McNamara took 6-43 and was well supported by the in-form Andrew Sidley who wiped out the visitors' middle order. Only professional Martin Van Jaarsveld provided any resistance as he dug in to make 45 before McNamara ended his and Lowerhouse's resistance.

Haslingden lost Mike Ingham early in their reply but with Barry Knowles making 37 and Paul Blackledge unbeaten 32, the home side suffered few alarms in securing a seven-wicket win.

Bacup returned to winning ways following the intervention of the weather as they beat Rishton on a faster scoring rate at Lanehead.

The home side looked favourites and any chance Rishton may have had of overhauling Bacup's 186-8 disappeared when their reply was curtailed at 142-5 after 43 overs with John Seedle well set on 29 not out.

John Bibby had made 69 at the top of the order, his 50 coming off 109 deliveries, to get the run-chase under way. Bacup's innings was under-pinned by 61 from professional Brad White, before he became one of Jonathan Davies' five victims in an eventful six-over spell which also yielded 38 runs.

Resurgent Colne chalked up their fifth consecutive Lancashire League victory against Church on Saturday after a day of drama at Blackburn Road.

A total of 22 wickets fell for just 119 runs as the men from the Horsfield rescued victory from the jaws of defeat in sensational style.

Gary Laycock's decision to bat after winning the toss looked to have back-fired when the visitors were skittled for a meagre 64.

Teenager Craig Fergusson took 4-2 and Maboob Hussain, Nick Westwell and professional Neil McGarrell all claimed two wickets apiece to dismiss Colne inside 34 overs.

But Church's reply never got off the ground and once professional Joe Scuderi hit top-form, they were soon in deep trouble.

The South Australian took two early wickets to leave the home side reeling at 3-3 and only Fergusson (10) and Phil Sykes (12) mustered double figures as he ripped through the middle order on his way to 5-19.

Andy Roberts also chipped in with 3-7 as Church were finally toppled for 55 in the 34th over - still 10 runs short of victory.

Nelson kept hold of top-spot in the table with a victory on run-rate over Enfield at Seedhill. A fine opening spell from Trevor Kegg (5-37) had Enfield on the wrack at 49-7.

But an eighth-wicket partnership of 55, dominated by David Bracewell (44), helped the visitors recover to a more respectable 123-9 from their full quota of 50 overs. Enfield got back in the game by removing openers Duncan Spencer and Chris Willan with just one on the board.

But a spirited unbeaten 61 from Paul Garaghty led the home side to 90-3 when the rain came down after 31 overs and, despite never getting back on, some quick calculations by the umpires deemed Nelson won on faster run rate.

East Lancs kept up the pressure on Nelson by beating Rawtenstall at Alexandra Meadows after the weather also ended their contest prematurely.

Phil Mercer's men were heading for a shock defeat after South African professional Lloyd Ferreira (5-37) had reduced them to 84-8.

But a ninth wicket stand of 30 between Nasir Iqbal (21) and Matthew Egan (18 not out) edged the home side towards a more challenging total of 121 all out.

Rawtenstall quickly got bogged down in their run chase as Iqbal, Claude Henderson and Ian Haworth kept things tight with the ball.

And when the rain finally came down in the 34th over, they were well behind the run rate on 69-4 to hand Phil Mercer's men the points.

Source :: The Lancashire Evening Telegraph