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Match Day 28th July 2001

IT'S CLOSE AT THE TOP

By Gerry Wolstenholme

Results on Saturday in the Bay 96.9 Northern Premier League went in such a way that things at the top of the table tightened, certainly as far as the top two places were concerned as two points now separate leaders Netherfield from second-placed Chorley. And only 24 points now separate the top seven sides.

Netherfield had something of a scare on Saturday when St Annes at one time looked as thought the 242-5 that had been posted would be overhauled. But in the end the Netherfield fighting spirit saved a defeat and it was more St Annes who were hanging on at 218-7. Netherfield professional Pieter Strydom was the undoubted star as he hit 128 not out to take him to 766 League runs already this season. Grahame Clarke weighed in with a typically pugnacious 47 while David Booth bowled tightly for St Annes with little reward. Adrian Darlington, 50, Gareth Evans, 77, and Dave Callaghan, 42, made a brave effort for the home side but the rest fell away and a draw resulted.

Chorley meanwhile batted modestly to total only 149 against Leyland with in-form Nigel Heaton scoring 55 and Stephen Pallett taking 5-39. But it was enough to secure a victory as Josh Marquet, 5-44, and now 52 League wickets, and Iqbal Patel, 4-33, bowled Leyland out for only 103 to give Chorley victory by 46 runs

Blackpool had an easy day at Stanley Park as Leyland Motors could manage only 109 all out with late call-up David Higham still producing the goods with an impressive 5-32. Blackpool did lose six wickets making the 110 for victory with Martin Pickles the mainstay of the innings with 48.

Fleetwood, captained by Michael Clinning in the absence of John Wright on holiday, completed a double over now bottom-of-the-table Lancaster at Lune Road. Craig Pryor scored his second century of the season with 109 to provide the bulk of Fleetwood's 178-7 while Chris Glover took an impressive 4-30. Stephen Hill then went to work and produced his best NPL figures so far with 4-17 as Lancaster was bundled out for just 73.

Kendal gave notice to those ahead of them that they will be there or thereabouts at the season's end with a good win over much improving Preston who batted first at Shap Road and made 180. Pervis Shah became the third Preston centurion this season with 101 not out and Kevin Howarth began what was to be a good all-round day with 5-56. Kendal lost early wickets but then a stand between Howarth, 70 not out, and Alan Fawcett, 54, ensured that the target of 182-7 was reached.

Darwen and Morecambe featured in a high-scoring draw with the home side making 251-6 to which Gareth and John Cordingley contributed 74 and 83 respectively while Rudra Singh, proving to be a good signing for Morecambe, took 4-42. Morecambe made a valiant effort to get the runs on the back of 80 from Phil Thornton but eventually had to settle for a draw at 212-7.

Division 1

Abbreviated scoreboards (home team in bold):

Leyland Motors 109 (Higham 5-32), Blackpool 110-6 (Pickles 48)

Darwen 251-6 (Cordingley J 83, Cordingley G 74, Singh 4-42) Morecambe 212-7 (Thornton 80)

Preston 180 (Shah P 101*, Howarth 5-56), Kendal 182-7 (Howarth 70*, Fawcett 54)

Fleetwood 178-7 (Pryor 109, Glover 4-30), Lancaster 73 (Hill 4-17)

Chorley 149 (Heaton 55, Pallett S 5-39), Leyland 103 (Marquet 5-44, Patel 4-33)

Netherfield 242-5 (Strydom 128*, Clarke 47), St Annes 218-7 (Evans 77, Darlington 50, Callaghan 42)

Gerry's Match Of The Day

RUNS IN THE SUN

Netherfield 242-5 St Annes 218-7

By Gerry Wolstenholme

On a gloriously sunny day fifth-placed St Annes entertained League leaders Netherfield at Vernon Road on Saturday and spectators were treated to a run feast as 460 runs were scored in the two innings. Netherfield made slightly more of them and, totalling 242-5, set St Annes a very stiff target but the home side was well in the hunt at 200-2 with a run a ball required for victory. But, just as last week in the Slater Cup, St Annes fell away from a promising position and had to settle for a draw at 218-7.

Netherfield got off to a steady rather than spectacular start and the first run did not come until the fourth over as Craig Walmsley and Tommy Prime had a good look at Dave Callaghan and Joe Davies. Walmsley then opened up but he had only made 14 when he blocked a ball from Davies that spun back on the stumps and dislodged a bail and that was 21-1. It was soon 28-2 as Prime edged Davies into the eager hands of Callaghan at slip and he was gone for 11.

Simon Dutton joined Pieter Strydom at the crease and the pair advanced the total to 65 before the former smote a long hop from Roger Banks straight at Neil Bradley in the gully. An annoyed Dutton left the wicket with 12 to his name. But Strydom continued on his merry way with no alarms and, assisted by skipper Jimmy Moyes he took the total to 112 at which point Moyes, having just lofted a beautiful straight six, played all over a ball from Adam Cotton and was bowled for 17.

That was the limit of St Annes success for some time as Grahame Clarke joined Strydom and although Clarke took some time to get into his customary stride, once he did so, the St Annes bowlers suffered. That is except for David Booth who wheeled away at the north end very tidily. Even Strydom found it difficult to pierce a well-set field and Clarke played one of the day's best shots when he was forced to improvise to keep the scoreboard moving. He stepped outside leg stump and, off the back foot, audaciously thumped Booth one bounce over extra cover.

Callaghan was brought back into the attack at the south end but by then the batsmen were well in their stride with Strydom racing past 700 League runs for the season when he had reached 62. Clarke struck two huge sixes as only he can but when he had made 47 he skied the deserving Booth to Cotton who held the catch to leave Netherfield at 203-5.

Stuart Horne joined Strydom who monopolised the remainder of the innings. In the 80s David Taylor at long off was slow to react to a possible catch and on 97 he fired a shot straight through the leaping Banks' hands at mid-wicket. Otherwise his innings was chanceless as he took runs at will and when the 60 overs expired he was a magnificent 128 not out made from 153 balls with nine fours and two effortless sixes. Horne ended eight not out as Netherfield closed on 242-5. Davies with 2-49 was the most successful bowler but it was Booth with 12 overs for 52 runs and one wicket at the height of the onslaught who took the plaudits.

St Annes set off in pursuit of the huge total slowly but as runs accumulated the innings began to gain momentum. Gareth Evans and Adrian Darlington forced opening bowlers Scott Clement and David Wheatman from the attack and although spinners Marc Hadwin and Strydom were tried, they too were soon replaced.

The opening pair cruised past 100 with a straight six from Darlington off Horne but the very next ball the batsman was dragged fractionally forward and Moyes effected a very smart stumping. That was Darlington gone for 50 made from 80 balls with seven fours and one six and St Annes had lost its first wicket at 103.

Evans and Callaghan then continued to dominate the Netherfield attack although the professional had a somewhat slow start by his standards. Netherfield rotated the attack but it made no difference as the batsmen continued to take runs freely until Evans edged Hadwin to Moyes and was gone for a splendid 77 made from 137 balls with eight fours. With Cotton joining Callaghan the 200 duly arrived and there were then 43 runs required from 42 balls so a St Annes victory was very much a possibility. But without addition, and just after surviving a vehement appeal for a catch behind the wicket, Callaghan was bowled by his fellow countryman Strydom for 42 made from 83 balls with five fours.

And that was the start of a St Annes decline and a Netherfield resurgence with the catalyst being the return to the attack of Marc Hadwin for his teasing leg spin restricted the runs to such a degree that chances had suddenly to be taken. In so doing wickets fell and St Annes lost four while only three runs were added; from 212-3 the total slipped to 215-7.

Davies made four before a mix-up with Cotton cost him his wicket to a run out and Cotton, 10, was caught by Clement off Strydom, who was now looking menacing after having dished up some very hittable balls earlier in his spell. Russ Bradley then had to try to attack and his advance down the track only resulted in his being stumped off Hadwin for nought, a fate that also befell Banks off the bowling of Strydom. So Duncan Whalley and Neil Bradley were left to reflect what might have been and bat out the remaining overs to take St Annes safely in at 218-7. Strydom had 3-43 but the bowling honours went to Hadwin whose 2-38 was a modest reflection on his worth to his side on the day.

Division 2

Abbreviated scoreboards (home team in bold):

Leyland 155 (Jackson 7-21), Chorley156-3 (Catterall 88*,Yardley 48)

Fleetwood 267 (Latus 46, Coultas 43, Dawson 4-61), Lancaster 174-9 (Batterbee 49)

Leyland Motors 142 (Roebuck 4-58), Blackpool 143-1 (Lamb 80*, Mercer 48*)

Morecambe 208-7 (Hansson 40, Davies 5-44), Darwen 161-9 (Bateson 71, Winder 4-53)

Netherfield 203-5 (Stewart 68, Jones 52, Welbourne 51), St Annes 117 (Kellett 49 Nixon 8-59)

Kendal 162 (Harrison 5-21), Preston 167-5

Sunday score:

St Annes 114 (Aidan Cotton 36, Williams 4-23), Preston 115-8 (Richardson 43*, Booth 5-14)

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