By Michael Latham

Leyland pro Brett Pelser is caught and bowled by Gary Collins

Leyland were 11 runs away from lifting the Furness Building Society Northern Premier Cricket League (incorporating Readers Cricket Balls) title on a dramatic afternoon at Fox Lane but Barrow's unbelievable victory has kept their hopes alive.

Barrow were bowled out for just 94 before a large crowd at Fox Lane as Leyland's inspirational professional Brett Pelser took seven for 33. The South African bowled Greg Platten fourth ball and shattered the stumps of three other Barrow batsmen in a brilliant spell, backed by Luis Reece's two for 32. Only Chris D'Leny who made a fighting 51 off 65 balls with five fours and one six provided prolonged resistance. D'Leny was last man out, caught in the deep by Leyland captain David Makinson after a defiant innings.

Chris D'Leny hits high against Brett Pelser during his match-winning 51

Leyland had to contend with an injury to wicketkeeper Matthew Watkinson who retired hurt with a swollen knee, Peter Cummings and then Reece sharing stints behind the timbers. Reece and Chris Parkinson gave Leyland a flying start with 32 before Graham Dawson claimed the former's wicket.

The introduction of left arm spinner Gary Collins into the attack changed the game and Collins bowled superbly to take four for 18 including the key wicket of Pelser caught-and-bowled for 1. He was supported by Lancashire Academy member Liam Livingstone who bowled his first long stint of the summer after suffering a broken arm in the winter on a tour of India.

Switching from his usual leg-spin to off-spin Livingstone supported his colleague with an inspired spell of four for 16 as Leyland buckled under the pressure of a fired-up Barrow fielding performance and were bowled out for 84.

Liam Livingstone took four for 16 in Barrow's unbelievable win

Barrow pro Pasan Wanasinghe claimed the last wicket, trapping Watkinson leg before amid scenes of jubilation from Daryl Wearing's players.

Barrow's players celebrate keeping the title race alive

Leyland (played 23- 246pts) now lead Barrow (23-235pts) by 11 points with two games left. Leyland's last two games are at Preston and home to Darwen while Barrow visit Chorley before hosting Preston.

St Annes (23-220) are third but were left to reflect on a winning draw against Preston who will have a big say in the title race in the next fortnight.

St Annes captain Andy Kellett hit his second Northern League Division One century, his first being 101 not out against Morecambe in 1991. Kellett batted superbly to make an undefeated 111 off 141 balls including 12 fours in his side's 254 for 2 at Vernon Road.

Teenager Nathan Armstrong confirmed his rich promise with 61 and Russ Bradley hit an undefeated 69 after the prolific Atiq Uz-Zaman was bowled by Preston captain Lukman Vahaluwala for 4.

Vahaluwala then made an unbeaten 56 off 60 balls as Preston closed 217 for 8 after opener Sajid Patel made 75 off 86 balls. St Annes pro Dinuka Hettiarachchi bowled unchanged to take seven for 76 off 25 overs and now has 92 wickets at an average of 11.04 for the season.

Readers Cup holders Darwen continued their fine recent form with a resounding win over Chorley. Darwen's talented teenager Kamran Anwar reached the milestone of 50 wickets for the first time as Chorley collapsed to 49 all out in reply to Darwen's 200. Anwar took two for 15 off seven overs but was eclipsed by cup final hero Neil Cordingley who collected five for 25 with Chris Wade weighing in with two for five.

Darwen skipper John Cordingley top-scored with 50, Chris Clarke making 38 and Anwar 34 off only 25 balls. Chorley had the services of Norden's South African professional Michael Price as sub-pro. Price went into the game with on the back of a prolific season for his club having taken 65 wickets and scored 1,412 runs but was caught behind off Anwar for a duck after taking three for 72.

Morecambe professional Mandla Mashimbyi enjoyed a fairytale end to his career as he hit an undefeated 100 off 50 balls to propel his side to an eight wickets derby day win at Lune Road. Mashimbyi's magnificent knock included 12 fours and four sixes and was warmly applauded by the home players and spectators as well as the Morecambe contingent.

Mashimbyi will now return to his homeland to take on a coaching role having announced his retirement as a player due to a chronic knee problem. Morecambe will employ a sub-professional for their last two games.

Mashimbyi hit 720 runs at 48.00 and took 43 wickets at 20.21 for Moreambe in 2010.

Ryan Smith hit a six to win the game and finished 34 not out, having shared an unbroken stand of 135 with his professional.

Earlier Tim Barry grafted for 52 off 126 balls in Lancaster's 147, Chris Williams taking four for 50.

Blackpool fought hard in their local derby with Fleetwood and had to be satisfied with a winning draw with the issue in doubt until the last over. Alex Smith hit 46 off 84 balls and Andy Furniss a rapid 46 not out from 33 balls in Blackpool's 186 for 7, Michael Clinning taking three for 72 from 18 overs.

Richard Gleeson took the wickets of the first four Fleetwood batsmen on his way to five for 71 off 19 overs but Adam Sharrocks (46) and Chris Stanhope (32) kept the visitors in the hunt. Steven Mercer came into the attack to take three for 33, with Rob Sissons claiming four victims behind the stumps as Fleetwood, 148 for 5 at one stage closed on 178 for 9. Gleeson has taken 44 wickets at 20.68 this year.

Netherfield won the Kendal derby at Shap Road by three wickets, overhauling Kendal's 172 with 16 balls to spare. Opener Jack White hit 52 off 102 balls for Kendal but pro Ross McMillan (37) and Terry Hunte (38) were both dismissed by Netherfield pro Nick Kruger when apparently well-set. Kruger claimed five for 61 and Marc Hadwin five for 53.

Valuable contributions by Kruger (26), Ben Haddrick (35), John Huck (32) and Craig Walmsley (21) got Netherfield home despite McMillan bowling unchanged to take three for 61 and Oliver Field taking two fine catches and affecting a run out.

Carnforth defeated Lancashire Colts by five wickets at Lodge Quarry to earn their fourth win of the season- and their first batting second.

Professional Gareth Pedder celebrated re-signing for a third year with another fine all-round performance, reaching 50 wickets for the season and then hitting 46 off 52 balls to go past the 500-runs mark as Carnforth passed the Colts total of 159 with Tom Barnfield and Adam Cowperthwaite sharing an unbroken stand of 42.

Cumberland county bowler Cowperthwaite enjoyed his best stint of the summer, taking six for 49 off 15.4 overs. Carnforth had earned praise from the umpires for their sportsmanship in Saturday's game at Chorley, supplying a substitute fielder for all but one ball of their innings after Billy Smith sustained an injury to the webbing on his hand.