Cricket: Rochdale progress in Lancashire Cup

Mo Bux - Rochdale Cricket Club

Rochdale made smooth progress in the LCB Cup by virtue of a 53-run victory over Westhoughton at Redbrook on Sunday.

They now travel to Lowerhouse on 2 July for their third round tie.

Rochdale were indebted to Ben Chapman, who scored 52 and Mo Bux who bolwed 5 for 25, both of whom had justifiable claims to be man-of-the-match.

Although the game started on time it took only seven overs for the rain to appear, by which time Rochdale were 15 for one, having lost Jack Avery, caught at slip off Oliver Newby in the first over.

A series of showers, one particularly sharp, and the drying process confined the players to the pavilion for over three hours and the subsequent recalibration reduced the game’s length to 21 overs each.

Chapman immediately set about rectifying what was now perceived to be a disadvantage for Rochdale. He hit the first ball on resumption over long on for six and made run scoring look easier than it should have been on a weather affected surface.

He received notable support from Kelton Aughey, whose cameo innings of 20 in 18 balls included a sumptuous drive through extra cover which evoked memories of David Gower.

In what was effectively a T20 bash, the innings was dominated by Chapman. He hit five sixes in a 46-ball innings and provided the substance in Dale’s total of 118, which was upgraded to 128 by the Duckworth Lewis calculation.

Rain affected pitches suit most bowlers, particularly Mo Bux. He is now at the stage of his career when economy of movement is paramount, and he runs in off a few paces, puts the ball on the spot and lets the surface do the rest - and this one obliged, Westhoughton’s innings never got started.

Bux removed both openers and when Andrew Dawson’ direct hit left Jordan Higham well short after Professional Qaiser Abbas had called for an improbable single, the visitors were 13 for three.

Abbas was Westhoughton’s only hope, but he found it difficult to add any momentum and when he did hit out at a Bux delivery, Henry Cooper running in at pace from long took a marvellous catch.

Bux was in his element. He was receiving terrific support both from his co opening bowler, Michael Harling, who ran in determinedly and delivered with verve and accuracy, and the rest of his team mates whose sure handed fielding scored one hundred per cent on chances to catches taken register.

Westhoughton collapsed to 49 for eight and the game was up. A late flurry from Charlie Honour and Kieran Paisley merely elevated their reply to the cusp of respectability, but the day belonged to Rochdale, Chapman and Bux.

Rochdale

J Avery c Edwards b Newby 0

B Chapman run out 52

H Cooper c Edwards b Atherton 15

A Dawson run out 1

K Aughey st Paisley b Abbas 20

D Haulkner c Higham b Abbas 0

M Harling c Houghton b Newby 13

O Makin b Abbas 5

J O’ Neill not out 2

M Bux lbw Abbas 0

D Highton not out 1

Extras 9

Total, for 9, 21 overs 118.

Bowling: Newby Newby 8 2 30 2; Edwards 8 0 54 1; Abbas 5 0 33 4.

Westhoughton

D Naylor b Bux 4

M Atherton c Cooper b Bux 2

Q Abbas c Cooper b Bux 10

J Higham run out 1

R Brown c Aughey b Bux 13

O Newby b Harling 0

R Houghton b Harling 2

M Morris st O’Neill b Bux 8

C Honour not out 13

K Pailey c Cooper b Harling 10

K Edwards c Harling b Highton 3

Extras 9

Total (19.4) overs 75

Bowling: Bux 9 0 25 5; Harling 9 0 41 3; Makin 1 0 6 0; Highton 0.4 0 2 1.

Rochdale won by 53 runs (D/L method)