Lancashire League: Last-ball thriller! (28 June 1999)

28 June 1999

Lancashire League: Last-ball thriller!

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Claude Henderson inspired championship-chasing East Lancs to a thrilling victory at Bent Gate on Saturday - Lancashire League games don't come much better than this.

Henderson claimed eight wickets to take his season's tally to the half-century mark but every result was possible with just one ball remaining.

Chasing 201 for victory, Haslingden recovered from an appalling start to go into the last over 11 runs short.

With one ball to go they needed six for a win and four for a tie, but managed just two in what could prove to be a crucial triumph for the men from Alexandra Meadows.

East Lancs posted a big score thanks to a sound start and an excellent undefeated 61 from Paul Turner.

There were 28 extras too, and Haslingden could well again rue the loss of a point through slow bowling - the fifth time they have been penalised this season.

Skipper Stuart Taylor with four wickets and professional Brad McNamara with three, were the pick of the home bowlers.

Henderson's teasing slow left arm bowling soon had Haslingden in a dither with the home side collapsing to 37-4.

But spirited knocks from McNamara (34), Mark Griffin (45) and an inspired innings of 35 from 19 balls from Taylor, gave Haslingden a chance.

Patrick Lord then hit the ball around the ground to rattle up 37 late on and set up a thrilling finale.

But Haslingden couldn't quite make it although they did have the satisfaction of taking Henderson's runs conceded through the century mark for his eight victims.

It was Haslingden's first league defeat of the summer and could well have a major bearing on where the title ends up.

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