Darwen start with victory
Darwen's pro David Wiese hurried his side to victory |
Darwen opened their Twenty20 account in fine style with a comprehensive nine wickets win over Chorley in a rain-affected match at Birch Hall.
Twice winners of the competition, Darwen are aiming to make it a hat-trick this year and the way they started suggested they can pose a big threat.
The early stages of the Chorley innings were twice disrupted by rain and the game was reduced firstly to 19 then 14 overs per side.
But the visitors could muster only 55 for 6 in their allotted overs under glowering skies despite Australian professional Chris Hartley again batting throughout the innings.
Hartley hit an undefeated 28 off 34 balls and finally pierced the field in the last two overs to notch the only two boundaries recorded in the Chorley innings.
Chorley pro Chris Hartley again batted throughout the innings |
Darwen players celebrate Joe Anderson's run out of Michael Critchley |
Neil Cordingley, making a return to Darwen in the T20 competition only, and Yakub Bhamji each took two wickets while Joe Anderson produced an outstanding piece of fielding to run out Michael Critchley.
Darwen's Yakub Bhamji bowls Chorley's Ian Mawdsley |
John Cordingley hit one six and one four to launch the Darwen reply before being caught behind off Jimmy Lee.
But Darwen's South African professional David Wiese made short shrift of the target.
Wiese blasted four fours and two sixes to hurry Darwen home with 5.5 overs to spare.
Wiese was 34 not out when play ironically ended in sunshine with Chis Lowe undefeated on 13.
Leyland top the group with four points from two games with Darwen having two from one. Chorley have lost all their three T20 games in 2009 despite reaching finals day last season.
