Accrington Cricket Club
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Accrington 116-8, Haslingden 92-5 (Target: 91 from 29 overs)
3rd August 1985

The 1985 season was David Lloyd’s second and final year as professional. Lloyd announced his intentions to apply to the First-class umpires list for the following season. David’s son Graham also made his mark at senior level for the first time. The matches against eventual champions Haslingden proved to be pivotal with Bryan Knowles’s side winning both games against second placed Accrington. After the home defeat on August 3rd, Accrington failed to win any of their last nine games of the season, eventually finishing in fifth place.

Accrington 1985
Accrington CC 1985
©Lancashire Telegraph

Accrington lost a vital rain affected match against Haslingden on run rate in the battle of the top two at Thorneyholme Road. The match began almost an hour later and ended at 7.59pm following further delays for rain. The visitors won the toss and put Accrington in to bat. Professional Hartley Alleyne cleaned up Billy Rawstron for 13 with 18 on the board but professional David Lloyd and his son Graham put on 51 before Lloyd senior fell to Ian Austin for 34. Two balls later Austin struck again to remove Andy Stevenson who was caught behind by Tony White without scoring. Neil Jones made 5 before becoming Austin's (3-23) third victim and at 94 Graham Lloyd was trapped in front by Alleyne for 29. Skipper Trevor Hatch made 15 before being run out as Haslingden's tight bowling and keen fielding restricted the home side to 116-8 in 37 overs, Alleyne finishing with 4-58. Alan Worsick gave Accrington a great start by removing the dangerous skipper Bryan Knowles (5) at 12 and Stuart Taylor followed at 33. Worsick and Mark Aspin bowled a brilliant opening spell to restrict the leaders to 9-1 after 11 overs and 26-1 after 18 overs. After another delay for rain when 3 overs were lost leaving Haslingden 8 overs to score another 58 to win, Alleyne was brilliantly run out by Jones at square leg without addition to bring Austin and Mike Ingham together. With just 2 overs remaining 19 were needed. David Lloyd came on to bowl his first over of the match but 13 were struck leaving just 6 to win from Worsick's final over. Lloyd did pick up the wicket of Ingham who was stumped by Rawstron off the Accrington professional's last ball for 39 after adding a match winning 52 for the 4th wicket with Austin. The left handed Austin went on to make an unbeaten 28 to see Haslingden to a run rate win as the match finished with the visitors 92-5 after 29 overs. Accrington dropped down to third place, five points behind leaders Haslingden. Scorecard

If you have any memories of 1985 please email Nigel Stockley