Cricket: Run fest at Redbrook as Dale break record

Rochdale Cricket, Lacrosse and Squash Club

Rochdale passed 300 for the first time at Redbrook on Sunday when they beat Austerlands by a whopping 157 runs.

And there was a further statistic to interest the locals. Each of Rochdale’s top four passed 50, a rare if not unique achievement.

Ben Chapman (80), on his home debut, and Jack Avery (56) led the way with a century opening partnership, and their good start was then capitalised on by new professional, New Zealander Henry Cooper and Andy Dawson.

They put on 133 rapid runs for the third wicket, Cooper making 75 with Dawson unbeaten on 59.
Dale finished on 303 for 4 – their highest total in a home league game.

Austerlands were never in the hunt. Mo Bux, who extends the definition of veteran to new boundaries shattered the visitors’ early order, taking the first four wickets to fall.

Cooper then made it a day to remember when he took advantage of Austerlands’ disarray by taking five wickets with his off spinners.

Scores:

Rochdale 303-4 (Chapman 80, Cooper 75, Dawson 59 n.o, J. Avery 56)

Austerlands 146 all out. (Cooper 5-21, Bux 4-29)