By Michael Latham
Gareth Ashburner 54 for Kendal |
St Annes enjoyed another good day, extending their lead at the top of the Furness Building Society Northern Premier League (in association with 3D Sports) to 20 points as Duncan Whalley and Nick Jones inspired a three wickets win at Blackpool.
Whalley underlined his reputation as the best wicket-keeper/batsman in the league with an outstanding innings of 60 not out while former Durham University student Jones supported him with an unbeaten 43.
The pair came together with St Annes labouring at 70 for 7 in reply to Blackpool's 147 all out at Stanley Park. Whalley faced 112 balls and Jones 93 to edge their side to a famous victory
Earlier St Annes professional Dinuka Hettiarachchi took seven for 51 with a superb display of slow left arm bowling. Blackpool relied on the Lancashire pair of Francois du Plessis and Steven Croft for the bulk of the runs.
Du Plessis, deputising as pro for Saj Weerakoon who will miss the rest of the season after being called up to represent Sri Lanka A made 52 off 74 balls while Croft, playing for his hometown club as an amateur hit 43 before both fell victim to Hettiarachchi's wiles.
Richard Gleeson and Andy Hogarth reduced St Annes to 11 for 4, Gleeson again claiming the prize wicket of the prolific Atiq Uz-Zaman for his third duck in his last four innings against Blackpool.
Last season's Lancashire Player of the Year Croft then weighed in with three wickets in a typically wholehearted performance before Whalley and Jones came together.
In the clash of the next two clubs at Windsor Park Preston had to settle for a winning draw after reducing Chorley to 159 for 9 at the close.
Adam Parker's 70 off 92 balls and professional/captain Bilal Asad's 47 off 57 balls underpinned Preston's 233, the pair adding 107 in 75 minutes for the fourth wicket. Left arm spinner Rex Purnell took six for 32 and Billy Smith claimed three wickets.
Josh Tolley, returning to the Chorley side after a broken wrist, hit 65 off 98 balls and Will Moulton supported him with 42 before being run out. Zaheer Patel took three for 5 off ten overs as Chorley hung on for a draw.
Morecambe continued their recent fine run of form, defeating defending champions Netherfield at Parkside Road by six runs despite being without key bowlers Graham Lee and Jono Gates.
South African professional Mandla Mashimbyi stepped up to the plate, hitting 45 off 32 balls to help his side accelerate towards 212 for 8. Earlier Ikram Ullah's 62 and Mark Woodhead's 38 gave the visitors a firm foundation.
Netherfield looked to be coasting as they approached the last ten overs needing 38 with six wickets in hand. But pro Glen Batticciotto's dismissal for a fine 82 off 105 balls, caught by skipper Tommy Clough off Graeme Cassidy triggered a collapse.
Mashimbyi claimed the wickets of five of the first six home batsmen, taking five for 66 and Charles Boucher weighed in with two late wickets as the hosts were bowled out for 206 with three balls remaining.
14-year-old Alex Davies, the highly rated Darwen wicket-keeper/batsman warmed up for his appearance in next week's prestigious Bunbury Festival with 89 as his side earned a winning draw at Broadwater. Fellow opener Chris Lowe hit 54 off 95 balls while Davies faced 151 balls.
Fleetwood slumped to 75 for 7 in the 28th over after Stuart Hampson took three wickets for the visitors. But Rossall Schoolboy James Wilson and Adam Breakell then defied the visitors attack in an eighth wicket stand of 77. Wilson faced 73 balls for his 23 and Breakell 60 balls for his defiant 52 as the home side hung on with their last pair at the crease.
Kendal CC 2009 |
After several frustrating near-misses due to the weather Kendal collected maximum points from their visit to Lodge Quarry. Gareth Ashburner's patient 54 provided the backbone of the visitors 172, Nick Lewthwaite hitting three sixes in his 27. Gareth Pedder took three for 36 and Warren Quinn four for 37 in an impressive display of out cricket by the home side.
Kendal captain/ professional Ross McMillan then got to work, claiming the wickets of Carnforth openers Ryan Nelson and Richard Forsyth in quick succession. McMillan went on to claim four for 30 as Carnforth were dismissed for 95.
Kendal captain/pro Ross McMillan celebrates the wicket of Ryan Nelson |
Home professional Pedder provided the main resistance, hitting four consecutive sixes off Ben Simm before falling victim to a skied catch off the fifth ball of the over. Off-spinner Simm, last season's leading amateur wicket-taker, claimed three for 31.
Carnforth pro Gareth Pedder hits one of his four consecutive sixes |
Elsewhere Barrow had to settle for a winning draw at home to Lancaster. Pro Pasan Wanasinghe hit 98 and shared a third wicket stand of 132 with Cumberland batsman Jon Miles (50) at Ernest Pass.
Lancaster never looked likely to challenge Barrow's imposing 229 for 6 but skipper Tim Barry hit 59 and South African professional Mario Oliver 50 in his final game for the club to help their side to 183 for 6 at the close.
FIRST DIVISION SCORES:
BARROW v LANCASTER
Barrow (8pts) winning draw; Lancaster (5pts)
Barrow 229 for 6 (P Wanasinghe 98, J Miles 50), Lancaster 183 for 6 (T Barry 57, M Olivier 53)
BLACKPOOL v ST ANNES
St Annes (12pts) defeated Blackpool (3pts) by 3 wickets
Blackpool 147 (F du Plessis 52, S Croft 43, D Hettiarachchi 7 for 51), St Annes 151 for 7 (D Whalley 60no, N Jones 43no)
CARNFORTH v KENDAL
Kendal (15pts) defeated Carnforth (3pts) by 77 runs
Kendal 172 (G Ashburner 54, W Quinn 4 for 37), Carnforth 95 (G Pedder 42, R McMillan 4 for 30)
CHORLEY v PRESTON
Preston (10pts) winning draw; Chorley (5pts)
Preston 233 (A Parker 70, Bilal Asad 47, R Purnell 6 for 32), Chorley 159 for 9 (J Tolley 65, W Moulton 42)
FLEETWOOD v DARWEN
Darwen (10pts) winning draw; Fleetwood (3pts)
Darwen 214 for 4 (A Davies 89, C Lowe 54), Fleetwood 162 for 9 (A Breakell 52)
NETHERFIELD v MORECAMBE
Morecambe (15pts) defeated Netherfield (5pts) by 6 runs
Morecambe 212 for 8 (Ikram Ullah 62, M Mashimbyi 45), Netherfield 206 (G Batticciotto 82, B Haddrick 41, M Mashimbyi 5 for 66)
Leyland no game
FURNESS BUILDING SOCIETY
( INCORPORATING 3D SPORTS )
NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Division One
| Club |
P |
W15 |
W12 |
D4 |
D1 |
L |
NR4 |
BP |
Pts |
| St Annes |
16 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
16 |
154 |
| Preston |
16 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
18* |
134 |
| Chorley |
16 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
28 |
126 |
| Morecambe |
16 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
24 |
123 |
| Blackpool |
16 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
28 |
109 |
| Kendal |
16 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
30 |
106 |
| Netherfield |
15 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
41 |
106 |
| Fleetwood |
16 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
27 |
94 |
| Leyland |
15 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
28 |
93 |
| Darwen |
15 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
26* |
89 |
| Barrow |
15 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
18 |
86 |
| Lancaster |
16 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
18 |
76 |
| Carnforth |
16 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
8 |
3 |
33 |
73 |
* 2 points deducted for slow over rate
Divison Two
Lancaster strectch lead in Division Two
In Division Two leaders Lancaster extended their lead at the top to 16 points after defeating Barrow at Lune Road by six wickets. The visitors were bowled out for 101, Rob Child taking four for 31.Danny Welbourne hit a quick-fire 36 as the hosts romped home in 17.3 overs.
With Leyland inactive Blackpool lost the chance to make up ground when they went down by seven wickets at reigning champions St Annes. Prashant Aga hit 76 in Blackpool's 193 with Richard Thomas taking five wickets and Ashley Ward four. Adam Taylor anchored St Annes reply with 98 and Paul Wilks hit 41.
The result of the day was at Shap Road where Carnforth moved off the bottom thanks to Garry Baxendale and Patrick Cantley, whose unbroken sixth wicket stand of 60 decided a low-scoring match. Lee Barnes took five for 45 as Kendal were dismissed for 86 and despite Mark Phillips taking four wickets to reduce the visitors to 28 for 5, Baxendale and Cantley held firm.
Last season's runners-up Chorley had a seven wickets win at Preston despite Jonty McDonald making 57 for the home side in their 167 for 5. Wayne Clarke hit a defiant unbeaten 65 but Fleetwood went down to a seven wickets defeat at Darwen.
Netherfield had to settle for a winning draw at Morecambe, the hosts finishing well short of their target with eight wickets down.
SECOND DIVISION SCORES:
DARWEN v FLEETWOOD
Darwen (12pts) defeated Fleetwood (0pts) by 7 wickets
Fleetwood 118 (W Clarke 65no), Darwen 121 for 3
KENDAL v CARNFORTH
Carnforth (12pts) defeated Kendal (1pt) by 5 wickets
Kendal 86 (L Barnes 5 for 45), Carnforth 88 for 5 (M Phillips 4 for 19)
LANCASTER v BARROW
Lancaster (12pts) defeated Barrow (0pts) by 6 wickets
Barrow 101 (R Child 4 for 31), Lancaster 103 for 4
MORECAMBE v NETHERFIELD
Netherfield (9pts) winning draw; Morecambe (5pts)
Netherfield 197 for 9 (G Baker 43, S Cockburn 4 for 70, S Graves 4 for 33), Morecambe 142 for 8
PRESTON v CHORLEY
Chorley (12pts) defeated Preston (2pts) by 7 wickets
Preston 167 for 5 (J McDonald 57, M Patel 41), Chorley 168 for 3 (R Demming 48)
ST ANNES v BLACKPOOL
St Annes (12pts) defeated Blackpool (3pts) by 7 wickets
Blackpool 193 (P Aga 76, R Thomas 5 for 81, A Ward 4 for 53), St Annes 195 for 3 (A Taylor 98, P Wilks 41)
Leyland no game
FURNESS BUILDING SOCIETY
( INCORPORATING 3D SPORTS)
NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Division Two
| Club |
P |
W15 |
W12 |
D4 |
D1 |
L |
NR4 |
BP |
Pts |
| Lancaster |
16 |
2 |
7 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
24 |
154 |
| Blackpool |
16 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
13 |
138 |
| Leyland |
15 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
19 |
136 |
| Chorley |
16 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
17 |
118 |
| Morecambe |
16 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
26 |
115 |
| Netherfield |
15 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
28 |
111 |
| Darwen |
15 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
24 |
111 |
| St Annes |
16 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
19 |
108 |
| Preston |
16 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
14 |
86 |
| Fleetwood |
16 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
2 |
18 |
79 |
| Carnforth |
16 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
23 |
77 |
| Kendal |
16 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
1 |
16 |
75 |
| Barrow |
15 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
3 |
24 |
65 |
