Accrington Cricket Club

Lowerhouse 116, Accrington 124
11th July 1987

Accrington's first win on the road in the 1987 season came at Lowerhouse in mid July and at the sixth time of trying. The visitors batted first after losing the toss and were dismissed for 124. An unbeaten 52 by Graham Beech batting at number four provided the backbone for a match winning total after Lowerhouse professional Tom Hogan had taken 7-32. Openers Neil Barnes (15) and Nick Marsh (1) both fell at 17 to Roger Bromley and Andy McNicholas respectively. Hogan had Billy Rawstron held by Brian Holmes for 14 and then Alan Holden dismissed Accrington professional Bharathi Arun for 4. David Lloyd joined Beech to add 29 for the 5th wicket before he became the first of six successive victims for Hogan. Andy Gardener (5), Trevor Hatch (0), Mark Demaine (0), skipper Alan Worsick (1) and Tony Gallagher (2) all perished to catches as the Australian ran amok. Beech though stood firm passing 5,000 Lancashire League runs during his 98 ball innings to hit his first half century since returning to the club. Accrington hit back immediately with Arun dismissing both openers Brian Higgin and Jez Hope without scoring, the latter facing 24 balls before departing with 20 on the board. Phil Astin was next to go to a return catch to Arun after scoring 35 of the 39 runs on the board at this point. Pankaj Tripathi (11) edged Arun behind to be taken by Rawstron at 52 and 2 runs later Stan Heaton became Worsick's sole wicket of the innings, caught by Gardener for 1. Wicketkeeper Chris Scott also chipped a return catch to Arun at 56. Nine runs later Hogan fell to his opposite number. At 66 Brian Holmes was bowled by Arun for 5 but a 9th wicket stand by McNicholas and skipper Holden put Lowerhouse back in the match. The pair added 45 before McNicholas was caught and bowled by Lloyd for 31. Lloyd then sealed victory by having Holden caught by Hatch for 13 to bowl Lowerhouse out for 116. Arun finished with 7-56 from 13 overs in what proved to be his last match for Accrington. Scorecard

If you have any memories of 1987 please email Nigel Stockley