Match reports 7/5/25

Bacup travelled to Accrington hoping to record their first win of the season, after losses to Crompton and Greenmount in the first two fixtures.After winning the toss, Accrington, somewhat surprisingly asked Bacup to bat first. 

Little did we know what was to ensue when, with the score on 9, Collinge was adjudged to be LBW for 1, the stumps having grown 10 inches in height in the umpires eyes. Adlum was joined at the crease by the Bacup professional Khurana. The pair added 106 for the second wicket before Adlum was bowled by the Accrington South African professional for a well composed 40. Bradford departed for 6, but by now the Bacup professional was taking centre stage, dominating the strike and the Accrington bowling with classical stroke play, manipulating the field with shots to all parts of the ground. Gansler gave excellent support in a fourth wicket partnership of 155, before sacrificing his wicket, run out for 24. Khurana finally departed in the penultimate over for an incredible 234 as Bacup finished on a club record high score of 346 for 6, beating the score of 316 for 6 at Colne in 2011. 

Khurana’s 234 is the highest ever score by a Bacup batsman in Lancashire League matches, eclipsing the 195 not out scored by the great West Indian Test batsman Sir Everton Weekes at Enfield in 1949. It is also the second highest ever score in Lancashire League history. 

The professional Jurie Snyman would need to do something special to keep Accrington in the game and when he fell, caught by Steven Ball off the bowling of skipper Ben Lord for 26, quickly followed by Jacob Clarke, LBW to Khurana for a first ball duck, the game was surely over. Skipper Graham Sneddon (39) and Hasham (27) played positively, but Accrington fell 183 runs short being bowled out for 163 giving Bacup their first 12 point win of the season. 

Khurana’s day to remember was completed with 3 for 64 and three more catches. Lord took 2 for 36, whilst Dom Boardman’s switch to left arm spin reaped dividends with a return of 3 for 14. Bradford and Adlum also picked up a wicket apiece. 

Bacup will hope to gain momentum in their season when they entertain East Lancashire on Sunday. 

The Second Eleven entertained Accrington at The Tony’s Pizza and Kebab House Lanehead Cricket Ground, where Accrington asked Bacup to bat first. Bacup were soon reduced to 50 for 4 but a good recovery, with the innings gaining momentum towards the end, saw Bacup post a useful total of 197 for 7. Luke Bradford top scored with 41 and there were good contributions from John Syers (35), Niall Boardman (35 not out), Luke Davies (24) and skipper Ian Parkinson (18). 

However, this total proved to insufficient as Accrington coasted to by 7 wickets. Theo Goddard was the only bowler to impress picking up all three wickets to fall. 

The Third Eleven were involved in an entertaining, nail biting match on Bank Holiday Monday away to Rawtenstall. 

After being asked to take first knock Bacup posted a total of 181 for 8 in their allotted 40 overs. The innings was dominated by Matt Croney who scored an excellent 94 in 111 balls with eleven fours and a six.He was assisted by Patrick Hickey who scored 21 in a seventh wicket partnership of 21. 

Rawtenstall looked to be cruising when a second wicket partnership of 95 between Egan (31) and veteran ex Bacup player Matt O’ Connor (70), playing alongside his two sons, took the score to121. However, the introduction of Man of the Match Matt Croney turned the game on its head as Rawtenstall slumped to 179 for 9, before edging home to a one wicket victory, largely thanks to an undefeated 42 by Fazalerabbi with Rawtenstall picking up 10 points and Bacup 5. Croney’s off spin earned him a second collection of the day with figures of 5 for 34.