By Michael Latham
Will Moulton hit 55 for Chorley |
There were mixed fortunes for teams in the Furness Building Society Northern Premier Cricket League (incorporating 3D Sports) in the first round of the ECB National Knock-Out competition, with wins for Chorley, Leyland, Barrow, St Annes and Carnforth but defeats for Blackpool, Fleetwood, Kendal, Lancaster and Darwen.
Blackpool's Andy Furniss is caught behind by Josh Tolley off Bill Smith |
Chorley had a thrilling victory over Blackpool at Windsor Park, going through by losing fewer wickets in a tied game.
Blackpool recovered from 36 for 5 to total 148 for 9 in their 45 overs. First team skipper Paul Danson (22) and his second team counterpart Steven Mercer (32) led the recovery and then Andy Hogarth hit an undefeated 38 off as many balls to help post a competitive score.
Nigel Eastham took three for 44 for Chorley and Bill Smith 2 for 26 while Matt Parry bowled economically to take 1 for 14 off his nine overs.
Andy Hogarth reverse sweeps during his 38 not out for Blackpool |
Blackpool's Steven Mercer -a fine all round game |
In reply Chorley were struggling at 58 for 4 but skipper Jack Catterall and Will Moulton then put on 52 before Catterall was caught and bowled by Mercer for 21.
Mercer bowled an inspired spell, taking four for 18 off eight overs including the vital wicket of Moulton, bowled for 55 off 60 balls.
Moulton's dismissal left Chorley 131 for 8 but Smith and Jim Lee batted sensibly and accumulated an unbroken ninth wicket stand of 17, taking 5 off the last over. Smith blocked the last ball from Mercer to see Chorley home.
Elsewhere Barrow had a thrilling seven runs victory over Fleetwood at Ernest Pass.
Liam Livingstone (52), Chris D'Leny (50) and Ian Allington (42) helped Barrow reach 200 for 5 in their 45 overs.
Fleetwood finished 194 all out as young Barrow spinner Anish Patel took four for 25 and skipper Daryl Wearing two for 24. Fleetwood's new Anguillan born opener Chesney Hughes, a West Indies U19s player, hit an impressive 67.
Carnforth defeated Lancaster by six wickets at Lodge Quarry, restricting the visitors to 141 for 9. Opener Michael Stevens was Lancaster's top scorer with 50 while Gareth Pedder took three for 24 from his nine overs.
Opener Ryan Nelson hit 53 off 81 balls, including three sixes and three fours to help steer Carnforth home with 6.1 overs to spare.
Leyland defeated Bolton League side Bradshaw at Fox Lane by 26 runs. Leyland made 145 for 9 and then bowled out the visitors for 119.
St Annes wrapped up an eight wickets win Bolton League side Horwich early in the afternoon after bowling out the hosts for 81.
But Darwen went down by 60 runs at Sefton Park who just passed the 200-mark despite five wickets from Kamran Anwar. Joe Anderson hit 40 in Darwen's reply including 24 off one over.
And Kendal were defeated by six runs against Palace Shield side Fulwood & Broughton, bowled out for 179 chasing 185 for 7.
There was no play in the game between Netherfield and Preston at Parkside Road.
