CHURCH suffered a crushing defeat in Sunday’s derby clash against ENFIELD.
Heading into the game there was little between the two sides in the Lancashire League table so a tight affair was expected.
Church also enjoyed a two-wicket win over Colne on Saturday while Enfield lost at Nelson.
But Enfield got back to winning ways the following day by beating Church by 116 runs at Dill Hall Lane.
Enfield openers Liam Bedford and Greg Jones put on 60 for the first wicket before Jack Gaskill removed Bedford for 26.
Enfield professional Werner Coetsee then joined Jones and they made a second-wicket partnership of 93 before Kamran Basharat removed the South African for 44.
Jones and captain Adam Bracewell put on another 46 before Bentley removed Bracewell for 24. That sparked an Enfield collapse from 199-2 to 209-7, led by Church seamers Basharat (4-61) and Andrew Bentley (4-71).
Jones was the fourth man out, for a career best of 87, but Enfield steadied the ship to finish on 254-9 off their 50 overs.
Levi Wolfenden and Church pro Usman Tariq put on 26 for their first wicket before Enfield seamer Liam Jackson removed the in-form Wolfenden for 16.
Tariq (25) was then caught behind off the bowling of Jackson (2-41) before Bilal Abbas was run out for just 1, and just three runs were added when Coetsee bowled Harvey Aspin for 10 to claim his 200th Lancashire League wicket.
Adam Greenwood joined Craig Fergusson out in the middle and the pair put on 20, but Coetsee struck again with Fergusson out for 4, leaving Church 81-5.
The visitors still needed 174 to win and never came close, collapsing to 121-9 before being bowled out for 138 after 36 overs, with Coetsee (4-26) and Ben Dowling (3-33) doing the damage.
Bentley top scored with an unbeaten 30 for Church, who were joined in third place by Enfield on 106 points. Leaders Lowerhouse have 124.
ACCRINGTON are sixth with 99 after winning both games at the weekend, banking a maximum 24 points in the process.
After struggling while missing key personnel earlier in the season, last year’s champions welcomed back Marley Ali and Graham Lloyd during their 41-run home win against Todmorden on Saturday.
And Ali (55) top scored as they made 222 all out before pro Ockert Erasmus took 6-42 as the visitors were 181 all out.
Accy then bowled out RISHTON for 156 in their derby clash on Sunday.
Pro Matt Hulett (52) was the only one of Rishton’s top seven to reach double figures, with Jimmy Hayhurst (3-36) and Simon Hanson (3-43) the pick of the bowlers.
Rishton had the visitors 5-3 but an unbeaten 76 by Erasmus saw Accy edge home with two overs to spare, finishing on 160-9.
“It was probably the strongest side we’ve had this season so that always helps,” said Accy captain Stuart Crabtree. “It was great to get a couple of good performances under our belt.”
RISHTON also lost on Saturday, by eight runs at Bacup. The hosts made 231-9, pro Haseeb Azam hitting 119 while Paul Clifford took 3-31.
Rishton then finished just short on 223-7 from their 50 overs, Chris Lambert top scoring with his League best of 55.
Enfield’s loss on Saturday came via an adjusted target. Nelson made 164-8 from 44 overs, with Dowling taking 4-26. Enfield were then set 142 from 36 overs but only managed 123, with only three batsmen reaching double figures.
Church won at Colne after bowling the hosts out for 167. But they were indebted to an unbeaten 98 by pro Tariq as they reached their target with two wickets and almost six overs to spare.
