Cummings claims 7 for 15 including hat-trick
High fives for Peter Cummings from Ameer Khan after his hat-trick |
Leyland captain Peter Cummings led from the front with an astonishing bowling performance to maintain his side's 100 percent Twenty20 record in 2009.
Cummings, who has taken over from David Makinson for Twenty20 games only, took the amazing figures of 7 for 15 off his four overs as Darwen were bowled out for 95 at Fox Lane to go down by a margin of 27 runs.
Cummings's spell included a sequence of four wickets in five balls with Neil Cordingley, Cris Clarke, Stuart Hampson and Kamran Anwar being the victims as Darwen slipped from 82 for 4 to 89 for 8.
Anwar was bowled with the first ball of the 17th over as Cummings claimed a famous hat-trick.
Cummings, who employs the simple formula of bowling accurately from wicket to wicket bowled four Darwen batsmen. He crucially had Darwen pro David Wiese adjudged leg before, saw opener Chris Lowe superbly stumped by Matthew Watkinson and Clarke well caught by substitute fielder Dale Vardy.
Peter Cummings claims a leg before decision against Darwen pro David Wiese |
On a humid, thundery evening with dark clouds threatening a downpour Leyland had been bowled out for 122 in a game shortened to 18 overs per side.
Opener Karl Cross, fresh from earning his university degree, batted with refreshing freedom for 34 off 23 balls while Luis Reece hit 24 off 20 balls before being run out by Neil Cordingley.
Peter Cummings celebrates his achievment |
Andrew Makinson hit two massive sixes in his 21. But he then aggravated a heel injury which forced him to use a runner.
Yakub Bhamji, watched by the league's youth development officer Clive Henderson was Darwen's best bowler with three for 18 including the wickets of Cummings and Leyland pro Ameer Khan in successive balls.
Darwen will hope for revenge when the sides meet at Birch Hall on Friday. A Leyland win would ensure their place on finals day.
Leyland opener Karl Cross makes runs against Darwen's David Wiese |
Henry Thompson caught Jordan Clarke bowled Stuart Hampson |
Leyland's Luis Reece made a quick 24 before being run out |
