Cricket: Rochdale beat Accrington by one wicket

Rochdale Cricket Club opened the new Lancashire League season with a nerve jangling one wicket victory over Accrington at Redbrook on Easter Sunday.

Set a target of 212, Rochdale appeared to have foundered as they slumped from 171 for four to 189 for eight, until a mini revival engineered by 18 years old Haris Hussain, assisted by Jamie Roche, took them to 209 with two overs left.

And although Hussain, who had played with a calmness belying his young age was then bowled, Jamie Roche kept his nerve and saw his team home with two balls to spare.

Throughout the game an easy paced wicket had offered no help to the medium pacers, and Accrington’s innings began and continued serenely, with Rochdale’s attack posing little threat.

Rochdale, deserve credit, however, for keeping a rein on the visitors’ scoring rate in the later stages of their innings and the Accrington’s final total of 211 was probably 25 runs light.

Rochdale’s reply was equally steady with Andrew Dawson and Jack Duffy compiling a 40-run opening partnership, but the eye-catching contribution was provided by deputy professional Neil Dexter.

Dexter stroked the ball effortlessly around Rebrook’s open spaces and seemed destined to lead Rochdale to victory, but when he had made 58 from only 66 balls, he misjudged a drive at Accrington’s outstandingly promising leg spinner, 16 years old Raheem Kasser, and was held by Graeme Sneddon at cover.

Rochdale skipper Michael Harling had proved an admirable accomplice for Dexter, the two putting on 67 for the fourth wicket, but his misjudged drive to point with 41 still needed signalled something of a collapse with Kasser taking a further three wickets before Hussain and Roche steadied the ship.

Accrington

• T Pettini c Roche b Makin 45
• S Meeran Zia lbw   Dexter   26
• K Brown c Dexter b Harling 60
• K Grimshaw lbw Makin 52
• J Clarke not out 11
• G Sneddon c Hussain b Harling 2
• Extras 9
• Total, for 5 (50 overs) 211
• Bowling: Oddy 11, 2, 23, 0; Harling 9, 1, 39, 2; Dexter 13, 0, 60, 1; Ul Haq 2, 0, 16, 0; Makin 15, 0, 66, 2.

Rochdale

• J Duffy lbw R Brown 13
• A Dawson c R Brown b Clarke 26
• N Dexter c Sneddon b Kasser 58
• J Bohannon c&b R. Brown 10
• M Harling c Grimshaw b R Brown 29
• H Hussain b Kasser 22
• O Makin b Kasser 1
• D Faulkner st Bancroft b Kasser 5
• M ul Haq run out 2
• J, Roche not out 16
• S. Oddy not out 0
• Extras 33
• Total, for 9 (49.2 overs) 215
• Bowling: Clarke 10.4, 2, 45, 1; Hayhurst 3, 0, 12, 0; R Brown 15, 1, 68, 3; K Brown 3, 0, 22, 0;
• Kasser 13, 3, 33, 4; Grimshaw 5, 0, 24, 0.

Rochdale, 10 points beat Accrington, 5 points, by 1 wicket.

Rochdale Second Teamer Adam Saville had a day to remember at Accrington on Sunday when he took 7 for 23, the home side being bowled out for 76. Rochdale eased home for the loss of just one wicket.

This weekend Rochdale travel to Church on Sunday where 16-year-old Sean Benson is set to make his debut.