1991: Rain ruins derby, again!
Another great find from Anne Cochrane and the BCTHIC website. From 1991, some action shots of the rained off derby game.
From the site:
Lowerhouse professional Manoj Prabhakar gets behind an awkward delivery from his Burnley counterpart, Chris Mack.
Summary of Paul Spencer’s match report.
Rain, the curse of the 1991 cricket season returned with a vengeance on Saturday as the second attempt to play the local derby was again thwarted by a deluge from the heavens. Lowerhouse were the more aggrieved party by this disappointing outcome as they had manoeuvred their way into a strong position thanks to some consistent batting which enabled them to amass a formidable 212-4. Play wasn’t finally abandoned until 7 p.m. after the sterling efforts of West End groundsman David Bleazard had proved fruitless. The fixture thus was a “no result”, a disappointing outcome as the small crowd had witnessed some enterprising cricket, Jez Hope winning the toss and Lowerhouse batting first on an excellent wicket. Terry Little was captain of Burnley for the first time, injury had robbed him of Roger Law and Bob Whitaker, Mark Harvey was playing in Oxford and Trevor Pickup was on holiday. Little’s problems deepened when Andrew McLeod dislocated an already injured shoulder, Leighton James took over behind the stumps.
Stan Heaton and Lowerhouse pro Manoj Prabhakar were in fine touch, smashing Burnley pro Chris Mack for 33 off his first six overs. However after an opening stand of 57 in 13 overs Heaton was lbw to Paul Blakey. Prabhakar was looking well set until Mack removed the Indian test player with a hostile ball that flicked a glove and was well taken by James behind the stumps. A fired-up Mack was now charging in, but Chris Bleazard, who is beginning to produce his best form, and cultured veteran Phil Astin together put on 76 runs. Bleazard was severe on Malcolm Heyworth in completing his first half century against Burnley. Astin was on 26 when sub-fielder Chris Casper dismissed him with an excellent catch. Burnley’s bowling had put them back in the match, but the muscular hitting of David Whalley, partnered by John Procter, soon took the iniative back, Whalley twice hitting Malcolm Heyworth for six. The pair took 13 off the final over when John Procter also hit a straight six off Nadeem.
In reply Little started well until he was out caught and bowled Prabhakar, when the heavens opened and rain of biblical proportions ended play for the day
