Cricket: Magnificent Chapman century helps Rochdale overcome rivals Littleborough

Rochdale’s opening batsman Ben Chapman

Rochdale opening batsman Ben Chapman put arch rivals Littleborough to the sword on Saturday when he blasted a magnificent 140 to set up Rochdale’s 191 run victory.

He received support from fellow opener Jack Avery (47) and professional Henry Cooper (43) as Rochdale posted 330 for 6 – a record in a home game, and then saw his bowlers restrict Littleborough to 95 for 4 after their victory target had been reduced to 286 on account of a couple of interruptions by the rain.

The added bonus for Rochdale was they were awarded the full five points, Littleborough having been docked three overs for a slow over rate.

The day belonged to Chapman from the moment he hit his third ball for four and he seemed certain to break Peter Wilcock’s club amateur record when he was wll caught at mid-wicket by Clinton Perren just 16 short.

For Littleborough it was a day to forget. Without their injured professional, Ryan Burl they were unable to contain Rochdale’s batsman and when they batted they merely settled on 36 overs of batting practice.

Perren, so often a thorn in Rochdale’s side, made a half century, but it was probably the least inspirational of his career as the game petered out as a contest.

Rochdale

J Avery c Hernon b Jones 47
B Chapman C Perren Miskkella 140
H Cooper st Hernon b Hussain 43
K Aughey c Eadsforth b HUssain 0
A Dawson not out 36
D Faulkner b Miskella 23
O Maken b Hussain 3
M Harling not out 5
Extras 3
Total (for 6, 50 overs) 330

Bowling:
Knight 9 1 48 0; MIskella 13 1 81 3; Kershaw 5 1 33 0; Jones 8 0 59 1
Bentley 5 0 42 0; HUssain 10 0 63 3.

Littleborough

C Perren not out 57
G Nash c Aughey b Highton 8
R Miskella run out 11
M Hernon c Aughey b Makin 9
H Hussain b Makin 1
R Knight not out 0
Exras 9
Total (for 4, 36 overs) 95

Bowling: Bux 9 0 36 0; Highton 9 0 3 17 1; Makin 9 3 21 2; Harling 7 3 16 0; Cooper 2 0 3 0.
Rochdale, five points beat Littleborough by 191 runs on revised run rate.