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Accrington 77-7, Church 128-6 Accrington won on run rate
4th June 1978
 Accrington CC 1978 ©Garth Dawson |
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John Swanney hit 46 to virtually win the local derby with Church single handedly after new league leaders Accrington took the honours in controversial circumstances after rain reduced the home sides innings.
Play was halted by rain when Accrington replied to Church's 128-6 and once the teams returned to the field light rain began to fall again.
Play continued until the end of the 20th over which meant that a result was achieved.
Accrington's score of 76 in 20 overs gave them victory by 0.9 of a run.
Swanney was the only man in double figures as batsmen came and went. Malcolm Taylor made 9 in a 3rd wicket stand of 43 with Swanney after openers Graham Beech and Geoff Hayhurst had returned to the pavilion with just a single on the board.
Following the early loss of Hayhurst, 25 minutes of play were lost. The teams returned and play resumed but when the rain started again the umpires consulted the players who agreed to play on until the 20 over mark so that a result could be achieved.
When the match ended in poor light no-one was sure who had won until the scorers were consulted.
Jack Houldsworth took 3-12 as 3 wickets fell at 57 but Birtwistle (9) and Parsons (5) saw Accrington to a last ball win with an unbroken stand of 19.
Dave Parsons took 4-63 in the Church innings, again accounting for the opposition professional when he had Richard Austin caught by Ian Birtwistle for 5.
Skipper Steve Metcalf top scored with 60, including five fours and a six, adding 41 for the 2nd wicket with Billy Wilkinson (24) but no one else made double figures as the Church innings closed on 128-6 after 34 overs. Scorecard