1982: Burnley Triumph is heartbreak for Lowerhouse

Another submission from BCTHIC (original post here)

Early Breakthrough Lowerhouse opener Stan Heaton goes for the hook shot off Gary Robertson and is caught by Bob Whitaker.

The Express dedicated almost a full page to the local derby between Burnley and Lowerhouse, with victory for Burnley more or less ending Lowerhouse’s hopes of a first ever League title.
Peter Higgs wrote a full match report, and analysis, plus a preview of the title decider the following weekend v Rawtenstall plus reports of Lowerhouse’s victory against Nelson and Burnley’s close defeat by Colne the day before.
A summary of the match report Burnley v Lowerhouse follows:

Burnley won the local derby and Lowerhouse probably lost the championship in a match of limited skill but gripping tension at Turf Moor on Sunday. Needing four points to set themselves up for a last match quest for their first ever championship they stumbled within sight of the winning line. Hostile accurate bowling, murky light and the pressure contributed to the West Enders chasing a modest 114 for victory. The fielding of both teams was of the highest standard. The batting in comparison was poor. If Alan Holden’s well drilled team should miss out on the title (and they need five points from Rawtenstall next Sunday to force a play off) it will be because their batting has folded too often under pressure.

Gary Robertson the Burnley pro, fired up by the taunts of the Lowerhouse fans, emerged as the match winner. Burnley were in trouble at 60 for four in the 20th over. Skipper Peter Brown and Gordon Allison put on 39 to reach 113 for 8, with Holden, Gray and Bromley all bowling tightly, and Lowerhouse clear favourites. After the early loss of Heaton, and then Higgin for 17, Phil Astin and professional Gray added 16 for the third wicket looking in no trouble when both fell victim to Robertson’s liking for the short-pitched delivery, both falling to catches in consecutive balls to make it 55 for 4. Soon after Pankaj Tripathi survived a claim for a catch at the wicket off Robertson. The Burnley fielders thought he was out but the umpire didn’t. And soon afterwards when Tripathi gave his foot a painful whack keeping out a delivery from Whitaker, the Burnley fielders with the exception of Peter Brown, studiously ignored him as he fell to the ground in some discomfort. Tripathi hung around to reach 11, Keeley was caught for 2, and Lowerhouse’s hopes rested with Bushell but in gloomy light the hard hitting all rounder edged a rising ball from Robertson to wicket keeper Allison and at 78 for 7 Lowerhouse needed a miracle, but it was not to be and they folded for 88 all out. Robertson finished with 6 for 45. It was a thoroughly absorbing game which left a lot of sad people around Turf Moor. Burnley gave no quarter, why should they, to the extent that tail ender Whitaker was told to play back the final over to deny Lowerhouse a bonus point, instead of scoring more runs. The majority of cricket followers genuinely wanted to see Lowerhouse take their first League trophy. It’s not all over yet, but Rawtenstall now only need a point whereas Lowerhouse must take all five to force a play-off. “The odds are that when the story of the season is written it will say that Burnley effectively ended the Lowerhouse dream of their first major trophy. Was ever a derby victory more cruel?”
Alan Holden is quoted:” I am sick…we just didn’t bat well enough. Against Rawtenstall we will have to produce some magic. But we will still give it everything”.
Burnley’s captain Peter Brown said, ”I told Alan we’d give them nothing, and I don’t think he expected us to. I know just how he must feel as we faded and missed out on the Holland Cup.”

Light appeal could have changed result.
Lowerhouse could have won the derby if they had appealed against the bad light at the right time. Skipper Alan Holden said his batsmen would have claimed for the light if they had got ahead of the run rate. However, by our reckoning Lowerhouse were at one stage ahead of the required run rate and past the 20 over mark required to make the match valid. Burnley scored at 3.22 per over. At the end of the 23rd over Lowerhouse were 78 for six, a rate of 3.39. Umpire Jim O’Meara said afterwards “If Lowerhouse had appealed against the light when Graham Bushell was in I would have been in favour although I cannot speak for my fellow umpire. The light was bad at that stage and I thought they were ahead of the run rate. But as they did not appeal I assumed they wanted to continue.” Bushell said “We had a note of the total that we needed at the end of each over to be ahead of the scoring rate. We were ahead up to the 18th but I was under the impression that after the 20th we were never ahead. If I had known, I certainly would have appealed.”
(Full scorecards of all Lancashire League matches can be found on the League website)

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