Church denied crack at gazumping rivals

IN the JW Lees Senior Division 2, it’s a case of as-you-were with all of Sunday's fixtures resulting in abandonment and five points for each team.

- RICHARD PARTINGTON

It meant supporters were deprived of seeing the top two - Greenmount and Church & Oswaldtwistle - go toe-to-toe at the West End Ground, where no play was possible.

Accrington's game against Rawtenstall got under way with the home side scoring 146-5 from 33 overs, J Snyman hitting 92 runs. Rawtenstall were well placed at 71 without loss of wicket after 14 overs of their reply, T Aziz 28no and M Kershaw 39no when the rains hit.

At Crompton, the home side had posted a decent total of 240-8 from 48 overs against Nelson, M Jamal hitting 90 and H Dean an unbeaten 50. Nelson were struggling at 33-3 after seven overs when the weather took its toll.

Third-placed Enfield travelled to Alexandra Meadows, home of East Lancashire, and were asked to bat first after losing the toss. Lewis Wright continued his good run of form with 82 runs as Enfield put together 172-4 from 31.2 overs.

East Lancs were 34 without loss after 10.5 overs when rain stopped play.

Finally, at Blackburn Road, Rishton lost the toss and were asked to bat first by visitors Colne.

Rishton made 126-6 from 32 overs, B Boddie's unbeaten 32 the best with the bat for them. S Senapathi took 4-39 for Colne.

The visitors were 18-1 off five overs when the call came to abandon the match.

Bacup won the toss and elected to field first as they hosted Great Harwood, the visitors going on to make 141 all out from 35.2 overs, Thikshila De Silva hitting 46 and Matt Oddie 39.

The rain hit before Bacup had chance to reply.

In the JW Lees Premier League, Ramsbottom managed a valuable 33-run victory at Acre Bottom against Middleton.