Lowerhouse v Haslingden

Lowerhouse ended Haslingden’s slim chances of title success with a strong win on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors won the toss and decided to bat first in variable weather conditions. Graham Knowles got things underway by driving the ball for six through the off side. However, it wasn’t long after this that wickets began tumbling around him. Paul Hayes fell to Joe Hawke via LBW for just 4 while professional Brenton Parchment (1), Jack Taylor (0) and Matt Griffin were all in and out to Cobus Pienaar in a blink of an eye. Knowles continued to press on and stage a one man recovery mission as the hosts targeted the other end. Matt Walker was next to chalk up a wicket by getting rid of Connor Reed (0). Hawke returned to dismiss Laurence Adlam (0) and Muneeb Ahmed (5) to leave Haslingden on 64/7. Hawke finished with 3/48 from his 10 overs. Knowles, though, was still there and went to a gutsy half century just before the drinks interval, after which he finally had some support from Jordan Shannon who was taking on the bowlers with some lusty blows. They managed to achieve a partnership of 61 before Shannon had his stumps uprooted by the returning Pienaar for 24. Pienaar ended with 4/25 from his 12 overs. Walker got in on the act again to dismiss Joe Neary (0) and finish with 2/28 from 7 overs. Knowles was still battling away but didn’t manage see out the overs (or reach his century) as he was bowled out for 80 at the start of the 38th over by Paddy Martin, just reward for a tidy spell of bowling (1/12 from 5.1 overs). Haslingden were bowled out for 131 but would have been a lot worse had it not been for Knowles.

In response, Jon Finch raced to 10 but Jonny Whitehead missed an attempted drive against Parchment and was out without scoring. Finch could only add one more run to his good start as he left a ball that seemed to be going over the top but clipped his off stump. Ben Heap and professional Pienaar (who, earlier in the day, had signed a contract to return in 2015) helped to regain control of the match with some solid scoring as they notched up the second 50 partnership of the day. However, they both left the scene before the drinks break, Heap to Shannon for 25 and Pienaar to Knowles for 33. Matt Walker (1) also went to Knowles. Paddy Martin began to frustrate the attack (he would finish with 7 not out) as Joe Hawke managed a breezy 23 at the other end and another swift knock of 24 not out from captain Charlie Cottam saw the hosts home with 13.3 overs. Final score was 134/5 thanks to a further succession of boundaries towards the end of the innings.

MOM was Joe Hawke for his 3/48 and 23. It’s away duty for Lowerhouse this weekend as they travel to Rishton on Sunday.