Lancashire League: East Lancs pro unstoppable (24 May 1999)

24 May 1999

Lancashire League: East Lancs pro unstoppable

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

There's no stopping East Lancs professional Claude Henderson at the moment after another brilliant spell of spin bowling destroyed Church at Blackburn Road.

Chasing East Lancs' total of 195-6, the home side looked on course for victory after Craig Fergusson (37) and professional Neil McGarrell (51) shared a second wicket stand of 79.

But they eventually succumbed to the South African spin-king who then mopped up the tail with the minimum of fuss on his way to 6-63 as the men from the Meadows sealed a 47-run win.

Earlier, opener Andy Clague had laid the foundations for a challenging total with a fine unbeaten 84 which proved the backbone of the East Lancs innings.

South African professional Martin Van Jaarsveld was the Lowerhouse hero as the men from Liverpool Road maintained their excellent start to the season with an eight-wicket victory over Todmorden. Van Jaarsveld bagged 3-40 and Gary Moorhouse picked up 4-52 as the home side could only muster 134-9.

And the South African then took centre stage with the bat, smashing an unbeaten 65 including 10 fours, as he and skipper Nick Hope shared a second-wicket stand of 85 to set up a comfortable win.

Accrington recorded their second successive victory courtesy of a gutsy 66 not out from professional Mark Bailey.

Bacup posted a challenging target of 176-7, thanks largely to a sixth-wicket partnership of 60 between Andrew Spencer (34) and John Chapman. Terry Lord also chipped in with 35 not out at the death. But after eight overs were lost to the rain, Bailey struck seven fours and one six in his 91-ball 66 to lead the home side to 155-6 and a win on faster run-rate. A third wicket partnership of 123 between Jon Dobson (56) and professional Paul Wiseman (57) set up Rishton's victory over Burnley at Blackburn Road.

The home side were eventually dismissed for 212 as David Connolly claimed 4-64. John Seedle (3-38) and Frank Barden (5-16) quickly had the visitors in trouble at 54-8. But some late defiance from the tail saw Rishton take a further 23 overs before wrapping things up as Burnley were finally ousted for 131.

Enfield batsmen Andy Barker and Dave Saker picked up from where they left off on Saturday with another century stand to see off Rawtenstall.

The Dill Hall Lane duo shared a stand of 227 to beat Heywood in the Inter-League Club Challenge Trophy the previous day. And this time they put on 104 for the third wicket, Barker making 51 not out and Saker 47, as the home side reached Rawtenstall's total of 139-9 with seven wickets to spare.

Ramsbottom enjoyed their first win of the season in a rain-affected clash with Colne but it will be an afternoon home opener John Lambert will want to forget.

Lambert was hit on the head by a nasty bouncer from visiting professional Matthew Pascoe and needed hospital treatment before returning.

He wasn't able to resume his innings though and left for home long before his side had slipped to defeat. Ramsbottom chased a revised target of 141 and managed victory with more than two overs to spare, all the amateurs chipping in with Colne's sub-pro, Australian Geoff Foley, unable to make much impression.

Source :: The Lancashire Evening Telegraph