Lancashire League: Capel inspires Haslingden (1 Sep 1998)

1 September 1998

Capel inspires Haslingden

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Former England all-rounder David Capel inspired Haslingden to a 13 run victory over East Lancs in the Lees Brewery Inter-League Challenge Trophy at Alexandra Meadows.

Capel, who was deputising as professional for Hamish Anthony, turned the screw when it counted, picking up 2-15 from nine overs as East Lancs chased 143 for victory in front of a bumper Bank Holiday crowd.

On a bowler-friendly track, Haslingden had struggled to set a big total after winning the toss and deciding to bat.

Nasir Iqbal (3-13) made life difficult for the top order early on, picking up the first three wickets, including Capel for six, in a lively spell.

But as his team-mates faltered all around him, experienced campaigner Michael Ingham dug in and held the Haslingden innings together.

At the half way mark the visitors were scoring at less than two runs an over as the East Lancs attack kept things tight, lead by Iqbal and Ian Haworth.

But Ingham continued to graft his way to a valuable 33 before being bowled by Phil Mooney as Haslingden eventually concluded their innings on 142-9 off 45 overs.

In reply, East Lancs got off to a comfortable start on a slow track. But Andrew Sidley and Capel accounted for both openers as the game suddenly changed and a magnificent leg-side stumping from Jack Simpson accounted for sub pro Mark Chilton (10) as the Lancashire man was beginning to look dangerous.

The ever-dependable Mark Lomas seized back the initiative with a quick-fire 41, despite a tight spell from Capel, who got some extra life from the pitch.

Once the East Lancs skipper was caught by Nick Grindrod after attempting to square cut a wide bowl from Knowles the home side were back in trouble.

Phil Mooney and Jan Van Boeckel swung the game back in East Lancs favour again with some powerful late hitting.

But Mooney (14) was then trapped leg before and Van Boeckel (15) was bowled by Knowles as Haslingden piled on the pressure.

Knowles claimed his third victim when Iqbal went for the big one as East Lancs fell 13 runs short.

Haslingden skipper Mark Griffin was delighted with his side after they wiped out the memory of their Worsley Cup semi final defeat against Colne.

"We were all very disappointed after playing very poorly against Colne earlier in the season," said Griffin.

"This victory shows how much we wanted to put that right.

"I thought we might have been 20 runs short after East Lancs bowled very well to restrict us to 140.

"But David Capel bowled a magnificent spell keeping things very tight with a good line and length and it ended up being enough."

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)