WERNER Coetsee starred for ENFIELD as they kept alive their slim hopes of snatching the Lancashire League title.
The South African professional said last week that Enfield couldn’t afford to lose another game if they were to catch leaders Lowerhouse.
And Enfield’s paid man earnt his money during a seven-wicket win at Colne on Sunday.
The 31-year-old took 6-54 before hitting an unbeaten 76 off 79 balls as Enfield reached their target of 186 with 17 overs to spare.
“It was good to get some wickets and some runs but the pitch helped,” said Coetsee. “It was one of the best wickets we’ve played on and the lads backed me up so it was a good team effort.”
Lowerhouse had a comfortable win against Rishton, though, meaning Enfield remain 32 points behind in third place. Second-placed Ramsbottom trail the leaders by 14.
Enfield are back at home this Saturday against Nelson and will hope Lowerhouse slip up at home to fourth-placed Haslingden.
“We’ve just got to keep winning every game and try to put them under pressure,” Coetsee added.
“Nelson had a good win against Accrington last weekend and we lost our first game against them this year so it’s one we really want to win. If we can do that and keep a run going then we’ll see where it takes us.”
Enfield won the toss at the Horsfield and decided to field, with Hassan Fazal (4-29) swiftly removing opener Tom Bradshaw (1). Colne added 26 for the second wicket then 58 for the sixth but otherwise Enfield struck at regular intervals to restrict Colne to 185 all out.
Liam Bedford went for 16 early in Enfield’s reply but a second-wicket stand of 96 between Coetsee and Greg Jones (61) set them on course for victory, finishing on 187-3.
CHURCH edged up to fifth, beating Todmorden by six wickets to get back to winning ways.
Church put the visitors in and Andrew Bentley dismissed Ben Sutcliffe and Ben Pearson without a run being scored.
Bentley (3-31) then removed opener Simon Newbitt (8) to leave Todmorden on 30-3.
And although they improved to 106-4, sub-pro JP de Villiers (73) was the only visiting batsman to reach double figures as they collapsed to 127 all out.
Jack Gaskill finished with 4-20 off 6.5 overs before watching Levi Wolfenden (27) and pro Usman Tariq put on 70 for Church’s first wicket.
Just two runs later, Sutcliffe had Lloyd Aspin for 0 and he was soon followed back to the pavilion by brother Harvey (5), leaving Church 84-3.
But Tariq’s 76 not out saw them home with over 16 overs left, with Church on 129-4. They visit Colne this weekend.
ACCRINGTON slipped back to sixth after coming just seven runs short in a rain-affected match against Nelson.
The game was reduced to 47 overs, with hosts Accy choosing to field. Nelson were reduced to 146-4 but added another 66 without loss, pro Ryan Canning top-scoring with an unbeaten 61.
Pro Ockert Erasmus replied with an unbeaten 81 but that wasn’t quite enough to get Accy over the line as they finished on 205-8. Simon Hanson was their next best batsman with 26.
Accrington, who visit Todmorden tomorrow, have been boosted by the news Erasmus will return next year though.
Second-bottom RISHTON suffered a predictable defeat against Lowerhouse, losing by nine wickets after being 81 all out at Liverpool Road.
Paul Clifford top-scored with 16 as Rishton were bowled out in 32 overs. He also claimed the only Lowerhouse wicket but they were already on 53 and got home in the 18th over. Rishton host rock-bottom Bacup tomorrow.
WEEKEND TEAMS
ACCRINGTON
1ST XI V TODMORDEN (A, SAT): S Crabtree, Jimmy Hayhurst, S Hanson, M Wilson, J Clarke, R Hussain, G Sneddon, A Hasham, B Hargreaves, S Excell, O Erasmus. Meet Todmorden 11.30am.
CHURCH
1ST XI V COLNE (A, SAT): C Fergusson, L Wolfenden, L Aspin, H Aspin, S Tucker, A Greenwood, B Abbas, S Griffin, A Bentley, K Basharat, U Tariq.
ENFIELD
1ST XI V NELSON (H, SAT): A Bracewell, L Wright, J Wrigley, S Wilkinson, H Fazal, L Bedford, S O’Loughlin, C Maudsley, B Dowling, L Jackson, W Coetsee.
