Memorable
Matches
Accrington v Rawtenstall
July
19th 1986
In
July 1986 Accrington were riding high. Already in the final of the Telegraph
Cup, they were also in second place in the league behind Nelson, although
they had lost the two previous games, Rawtenstall having got the better
of last weeks fixture.
Accrington
won the toss and invited Rawtenstall to bat. Openers Glen Barlow and
Peter Pickles made a slow start and after 9 overs, the visitors had
scored 10 for the loss of Barlow, who was caught by Accrington professional
Rod Tucker to give John Bramwell his first senior wicket for Accrington.
Peter Wood increased the tempo until he was bowled by David Lloyd for
30. John Kershaw and Pickles put on 43 before Mark Aspin claimed the
opener for 44. Rawtenstall continued to lose wickets at regular intervals
to Aspin and Lloyd until they were finally dismissed in the last over
for 170. Mark Aspin took 6-62 and the skipper 3-57 in 16 overs. Rod
Tucker had injured an ankle in the field and would only bat if required.
Accrington
openers Billy Rawstron and Andy Stevenson made a cautious start against
West Indian quickie Tony Merrick, scoring 23 in the first 10 overs,
until Stevenson was caught by Wood for 12. Rawstron and Graham Lloyd
soon followed to leave the home side struggling at 29-3 after 18 overs.
Neil Jones didn't last long, being bowled by Merrick for 7, and when
Aspin fell to Roscoe, Accrington were in dire straights at 48-5 after
21 overs. Left arm spinner Roscoe's first six overs had cost only 12
runs, when he bowled the over that would change the course of the game.
Throughout
his career, David Lloyd always had a reputation for being a fine player
of spin bowling, and at the age of 39 his skill in this department lay
undiminished. The first ball of the over sailed out of the ground towards
Huncoat for six. The next ball was a dot, followed by a wide. Six runs
from The Bumble was the reply followed by three fours. The over had
cost 25 runs. Accrington had gone from 57 to 82 in one over and Mr Roscoe
had taken his sweater. Runs were now flowing from both ends, Paul Barratt
contributing 18 in the stand of 76 with his captain, until Merrick dismissed
him and Andy Gardener to leave Accrington 137-7 with 10 overs remaining.
Rod
Tucker was next in, batting wth a runner, contributing 13, until his
dismissal at 162. John Bramwell strode to the crease and when he returned
to the pavilion, the score was unchanged. This brought the two veterans
together; Ian Birtwistle and David Lloyd. Nine to win, the overs no
problem, but only one wicket left. The Bumble was on strike, Bob Holmes
the bowler. The first ball was dispatched for six and, biding his time,
David struck the winning boundary over square leg off the last ball
of the over to complete a memorable innings of 83 not out, surely one
of his best.
Scorecard
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