Walsden win Wood Cup
The Scott Street side emerged five run victors, resisting Rochdale’s late bid for glory.
Walsden skipper James Rawlinson elected to bat and his side posted 192, losing their final wicket off the fourth ball of the 50th and last over.
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Hide AdOpener Josh Gale made a 70-ball half-century and Walsden had a solid base at 76 for one off 20 overs, only to slip to 93 for four.
They were forced to rebuild through professional Umesh Karunaratne (39) before the last 12 overs yielded 66 runs with Joe Gale (21) and Stevie Barker (13) chipping in.
Rochdale’s Australian pro Will Bosisto led the reply with 51 and received good support from Jack Avery (26).
The home side had reached 62 without loss in the 17th over when Karunaratne made the breakthrough.
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Hide AdThe Sri Lanka went on to take five for 50 but it was Nick Barker who picked up the prize scalp of Bosisto, fourth out with the total on 109 in the 33rd over.
When Rochdale slipped to 149 for seven with four overs left their hopes looked slim but added 38 runs to keep the Walsden supporters biting their fingernails to the very end.
Rochdale v Walsden
Walsden won by five runs
WALSDEN 192
J Hooson c J O’Neill b M Bux 12
Josh Gale b D Faulkner 57
N Barker c and b M Harling 16
J Rawlinson c D Highton b M Harling 2
U Karunaratne c D Highton b T Avery 39
M Dawson c J Henderson b D Highton 6
S Barker c T Avery b M Bux 13
Joe Gale b T Avery 21
C Hanson lbw b D Highton 2
C Rushton run out 4
J Shackleton not out 1
Extras 19
Bowling: M Bux 9 2 49 2, T Avery 6.4 0 38 2, W Bosisto 10 4 21 0, M Harling 9 2 25 2, D Faulkner 5 1 17 1, D Highton 10.0 1 36 2
ROCHDALE 187 for seven
W Bosisto c and b N Barker 51
J Avery lbw b U Karunaratne 26
A Dawson c C Rushton b U Karunaratne 9
K Aughey c J Rawlinson b U Karunaratne 0
M Harling c M Dawson b U Karunaratne 28
J Henderson c J Rawlinson b J Hooson 1
T Avery not out 39
D Faulkner st M Dawson b U Karunaratne 3
J O’Neill not out 8
Bowling: J Shackleton 4 0 20 0, S Barker 6 1 14 0, Joe Gale 5 1 20 0, Josh Gale 5 0 17 0, U Karunaratne 10 0 50 5, J Hooson 10 2 33 1, N Barker 10 2 27 1.