ON THIS DAY by Paul Hargreaves
31st May 1986
Lowerhouse vs Enfield
Hard to believe it’s now forty years since this match occurred. Lowerhouse batted first and were a disappointing 97 all out. Five players reached double figures without really going on. These were Higgin, pro’ Dodemaide, Astin, Heaton and top scorer Brian Holmes with 21.
Holmes wasn’t the most orthodox or cultured of batsmen but, on his day, could be very destructive, especially of medium paced bowling. He scored 6 fifties for the Club before moving to Accrington. The truth was ‘House’s batting line-up wasn’t strong enough. It consisted of some players that were past their peak and others not quite the required grade.
Ramesh Ratnayake, the Sri Lankan Test player, bowled a good spell taking 5-37.
In the Enfield reply they lost the experienced David Stanley early, but led by the talented Mark Whelan (45) were seemingly cruising to a facile victory. Whelan joined Lowerhouse a decade later but business commitments really limited his availability.
At 85-2 the ‘House faithful were drifting away but there was a sting in the tail. They lost 5 wickets in scoring the last 13 runs to complete a 3 wicket win. Tony Dodemaide was his usual miserly self, taking 3-31 in 17 overs in his normal workhorse role.
Tony was a popular pro’ and a real gent. He played for Australia at all levels. Later he was involved in the coaching and administration of the sport. A lifer as they say. At Lowerhouse he took 94 wickets in his only season. Only Corrie Jordaan’s 100 in 1997 is higher in the last 70 years.
Despite the loss ‘House finished in seventh in the final standings, two places above Enfield. At the very top it was the last season to finish in a tie. Rather unsatisfactorily, with both regular pro’s unavailable, Nelson outdueled Todmorden at a neutral Turf Moor.