By Michael Latham
The Colts celebrate the wicket of Fleetwood captain Matt Frith |
Lancashire Colts marked their first appearance in the Furness Building Society Northern Premier Cricket League (incorporating Readers Cricket Balls) with an emphatic nine wickets win over Fleetwood at Broadwater.
The Colts side captained by Jason Swift included two Northern League players in Leyland's Henry Thompson and Darwen's Yakub Bhamji.
Swift won the toss and invited the home side to bat and they soon in trouble with Bhamji bowling Nick Coultas for 7 and fellow opening bowler Danny Hawke accounting for Wayne Clarke, caught by Muhammad Abid at mid off and then having Fleetwood's professional and captain Matt Frith caught behind by Joe Davies.
Adam Sharrocks provided some resistance for Fleetwood |
Despite some resistance from Adam Sharrocks (24) and Chris Stanhope (22) Fleetwood continued to struggle with Ormskirk bowler Nick Caunce, who was a regular in the Lancashire Second XI last season and Abid both picking up one wicket apiece.
Chris Tipper then entered the Colts attack and decimated the tail, taking five for none off two overs of sensational bowling to leave Fleetwood 104 all out after only 36 overs.
Fleetwood batsman Tom Wilson plays watchfully |
The Colts cantered past their victory target in only 26.4 overs, losing Thompson who was caught behind by Lee Jones off Ryan Smith for 19.
At the close Lewis Jackson was 39 not out and Lewis Bentley unbeaten on 47.
The Colts side will play each member club once during the season with the points counting in the league table.
They are next in action at Leyland on Monday 3 May (1pm).
Action from the Colts first game at Fleetwood |
SCORES
FLEETWOOD v LANCASHIRE COLTS
Lancashire Colts (12pts) defeated Fleetwood (0pts) by 9 wickets
Fleetwood 104 (C Tipper 5 for 0), Lancashire Colts 108 for 1 (L Bentley 47no)