Church are chased down by Thommo

CRICKET MATT JONES

IT was a rain-affected weekend in the Lancashire League with only one result.

Church lost to Bacup by six wickets at Lanehead.

Bacup won the toss and chose to bat in a rainaffected match that was reduced to 31 overs.

Professional Zain Abbas was back for the West End side after returning from a training camp for Pakistan’s upcoming tour to England in July and August.

Abbas top-scored with an unbeaten 48 as Church got 102-3 in 31 overs.

Josh Scully (6) was the first batsmen to depart as he was run out with the score on 29.

Levi Wolfenden then fell without scoring as he was caught by Matt Collinge off the bowling of Matt Ramshead (1-40). Bilal Abbas then joined Zain, the pair added 59 before Lee Naylor removed Bilal Abbas for 30.

In reply, Matt Thompson smashed an unbeaten 65 as Bacup chased down Church’s target in 14.1 overs.

Bacup had got off to a poor start with Levi Wolfenden accounting for Tim Farragher (0), Adam Highley (7) and Ellis Hussey (7) while Kamran Basharat removed professional Haseeb Azam (10) to leave Bacup 36-4.

However, Thompson then added 68 with Ben Law who only scored 6 not out. Thompson’s knock came off just 27 balls, containing seven fours and four sixes.

Enfield travelled to Lowerhouse but only nine overs of play were possible at Liverpool Road.

Enfield won the toss and chose to bowl. Openers Jon Finch (21 not out) and Joe Martin (4 not out) got Lowerhouse up to 32-0.

Meanwhile, only five overs were bowled at Thorneyholme Road as Accrington hosted champions Burnley. Accrington won the toss and elected to field. Vishal Tripathi (10 not out) and professional Chris Holt (7 not out) saw Burnley get up to 20-0.

The match between Rishton and Colne was abandoned without any play.

In T20 action, Church moved to the top of the Blond Witch Group after they beat Rishton by three wickets.

Church won the toss and decided to field in a game that saw 368 runs scored. Rishton professional and Mo Patel put on a 100 partnership for the first wicket until Bilal Abbas (1-33) sent back Patel for (35). Eighteen runs later Kamran Bashrat removed Brad Boddie for nine.

Von Berg carried on to punish the Church bowlers as the South African added 58 with Ben Bridson (19) before he Bridson was bowled Basharat (2-29). Sub professional Travis Dean then sent back Matt Leathert (5) which saw Rishton finish on 183-4 in 20 overs.

Von Berg finished on 103 not out which contained ten fours and seven sixes.

In reply, the Church innings saw the West End team home in 19 overs. Francis Kinsella top scored with 35 not out, while Sam Holt added 34, Dean 25 and Craig Fergusson 22.

There was also a total of 31 extras which included 13 penalty runs as Rishton had a slow over rate. Von Berg took 2-15.

The match between Enfield and Rawtenstall was abandoned.