By Gerry Wolstenholme
It was very much a day for batsmen on Saturday as temperatures soared and tracks became harder and there were three First Division centurions, Ian Austin for St Annes, Ahmed Amla for Barrow and Omari Banks for Carnforth. And amazingly none of the players' clubs were involved in victory, Austin's came in a losing cause at Netherfield, Amla's Barrow side drew with the scores level and Banks' Carnforth drew with Kendal.
Probably the most exciting of the three games was the Barrow versus Darwen game at Birch Hall where both sides finished with 215, Barrow batting first for the loss of six wickets and Darwen replying for the loss of nine wickets. Amla made 123 and the in-form Stephen Knox was an able ally with 71 and for Darwen Gareth Cordingley made 67, Atif Ashraf 53 and Keith Semple 32 as Ray Mowat gained most credit for the bowlers with 4-59 and Amla had 3-70.
Banks contributed 111 to Carnforth's massive 269-6 against Kendal at Shap Road with Ryan Nelson making 41 and Atiq Uz Zaman 47 while Chris Miller took 4-78 for the home side. Kendal's reply was bolstered by runs from all the top batsmen as Ikram Ullah made 60, Kabir Khan 58, Terry Hunte 57 and Kevin Howarth 46 but with Banks taking 5-67 Kendal fell nine runs short of victory at 261-8. Congratulations go to David Fallows and his wife on the birth of daughter Jenny and David had to leave the field after 10 overs to rush to hospital so 'Podge' Barnfather had to manfully field 40 overs as substitute and a good job he did too! Two Carnforth players return briefly to the West Indies now to compete in a Twenty20 competition and the club will certainly miss Banks and Lyndell Richardson.
In the St Annes total of 232-6 Austin made the day's top individual score with a magnificent 137 not out from 147 balls with 15 fours and three sixes but only Arshad Khan of the others made any major contribution with 31. Russ Bradley's 20 was the next best effort as substitute professional, replacing the gone-home Dirk Nannes, Mahendra Nagamootoo took the bowling honours with 4-89 and there were two wickets for Scott Clement for 63 runs. The Netherfield reply got off to a flyer for Craig Walmsley, as his wont, was soon in free-scoring mood and in 72 balls he made a superb 93 with 15 fours and one six. Nagamootoo made it a good all-round day with 49, Simon Little made 21 and at the end Chris Parry was 32 not out and Grahame Clarke 20 not out as Netherfield cruised home by six wickets with 233-4.
At Broadwater Fleetwood continued their disappointing run with a 38-run defeat by Preston. The Fleetwood bowlers did their job by dismissing Preston for 184 with Stephen Hill taking 4-55, Paul Harris 2-64 and with one wicket each for Tom Blundell, Dave Fish and Zac Taylor. Preston's top scorer was Lukman Vahaluwala with 61 with Munaf Bavla's 22 and Bilal Asad's 20 being his best support. Fleetwood then lost wickets steadily and only a maiden half-century, 53, by Taylor helped Fleetwood to get to 146. Michael Clinning was the only other batsman to pass 20, making 22, as seven single figure scores did not help the Fleetwood cause. Asad took 5-55, Roger Kaye 3-38 and Bavla 2-21.
Morecambe convincingly defeated Leyland Motors at Sandy Lane where only Tom Reece with 37 and Ameer Khan with 28 made any useful contribution to Motors' 151 all out. Substitute professional Quinton Friend took 3-67 and Graham Lee had 3-18. Morecambe won in a canter with Phil Dennison the only man out for 78 as Mark Lomas 39 not out and Phil Thornton 31 not out saw their side home by nine wickets at 157-1.
Lancaster could not defeat Chorley at Windsor Park after they had made 181 all out with Tim Barry top scoring with 55, Brendan Hetherington, batting at number nine, making 30 not out and Luke Phillips 23 as Stephen John performed heroically to take 6-68. Chorley then held on at 118-8 for the draw but nobody made any great score, Guarav Dhar's 28 being the best and Ian Oakes coming next with 16 as another stand-in professional, Neshit Setty, took 5-38.
Finally Blackpool and Leyland played out a draw at Stanley Park after the home side made 196-8 to which Leyland replied with 167-8. Justin Kreusch led Blackpool's batting with 84 and Luis Reece made a best yet 40. Adam Parker was in imperious form for Leyland and never looked in trouble as he held the innings together with an excellent 73 not out.
First Division results in brief (home sides in bold):
Blackpool 196-8 (Kreusch 84, Reece 40), Leyland 167-8 (Parker A 73*)
Blackpool 9 points, Leyland 5 points
Lancaster 181 (Barry 55, John 6-68), Chorley 118-8
Lancaster 9 points, Chorley 4 points
Barrow 215-6 (Amla 123, Knox 71), Darwen 215-9 (Cordingley G 67, Ashraf 53, Mowat 4-59)
Barrow 10 points, Darwen 5 points
Preston 184 (Vahaluwala 61, Hill 4-55), Fleetwood 146 (Taylor 53, Asad 5-55)
Preston 15 points, Fleetwood 4 points
Carnforth 269-6 (Banks 111, Uz Zaman 47, Nelson R 41, Miller 4-78), Kendal 261-8 (Ullah 60, Khan K 58, Hunte 57, Howarth 46, Banks 5-67)
Carnforth 9 points, Kendal 5 points
Leyland Motors 151, Morecambe 157-1 (Dennison 78)
Leyland Motors 1 point, Morecambe 12 points
St Annes 232-6 (Austin 137*, Nagamootoo 4-89) Netherfield 233-4 (Walmsley 93, Nagamootoo 49)
St Annes 3 points, Netherfield 12 points
SURRIDGE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Division One
| Club |
P |
W15 |
W12 |
D4 |
D1 |
L |
NR4 |
BP |
Pts |
| Morecambe |
13 |
2 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
128 |
| Darwen |
13 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
20 |
117 |
| Netherfield |
13 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
21* |
111 |
| Carnforth |
13 |
0 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
28 |
108 |
| St Annes |
13 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
27 |
105 |
| Lancaster |
13 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
20 |
97 |
| Kendal |
13 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
22 |
95 |
| Blackpool |
13 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
18 |
93 |
| Fleetwood |
13 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
16 |
90 |
| Preston |
13 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
30 |
89 |
| Leyland Motors |
13 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
0 |
13 |
69 |
| Barrow |
13 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
1 |
38 |
68 |
| Chorley |
13 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
20 |
42 |
| Leyland & Farington |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
18 |
28 |
* 2 points deducted for slow over rate
There were centurions too in the Second Division. St Annes' Andy Kellett made 114 not out as his side defeated Netherfield by eight wickets with 214-2 in reply to 206-8 and Robin Adams of Barrow whose 111 was made in a high-scoring draw with Darwen who made 226-3 in reply to Barrow's 262-8.
Elsewhere John Wright made 88 not out for Fleetwood as they defeated Preston, 142 all out, by eight wickets with 143-2.
The day's bowling honours and the best return of the season so far went to Lancaster's Danny Milligan whose 8-15 was the main factor in Chorley being bowled out for 165 in reply to Lancaster's 225-4.
Second Division scores in brief (home sides in bold):
Barrow 262-8 (Adams 111, Livingstone 87), Darwen 226-3 (Carr 64, Bateson 50)
Barrow 9 points, Darwen 6 points
Kendal 118 (Hornby 4-45), Carnforth 119-4
Kendal 0 points, Carnforth 12 points
Lancaster 225-4 (Atkinson 85*, Johnstone 42), Chorley 165 (Milligan 8-15)
Lancaster 15 points, Chorley 2 points
Leyland 180-9 (Martin Brown 48, Bracewell 5-31), Blackpool 184-4 (Smith A 75, Taylor C 68)
Leyland 3 points, Blackpool 12 points
Leyland Motors 142 (Armstrong 4-31), Morecambe 143-3 (Izzat 51)
Leyland Motors 1 point, Morecambe 12 points
Preston 142, Fleetwood 143-2 (Wright 88*)
Preston 1 point, Fleetwood 12 points
Netherfield 210-8 (Haddrick 53, Girdhari 51, Postlethwaite 50), St Annes 214-2 (Kellett 114* Taylor 43)
Netherfield 3 points, St Annes 12 points
SURRIDGE NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Division Two
| Club |
P |
W15 |
W12 |
D4 |
D1 |
L |
NR4 |
BP |
Pts |
| Lancaster |
13 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
9 |
126 |
| Morecambe |
13 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
24 |
123 |
| St Annes |
13 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
20 |
117 |
| Netherfield |
13 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
34 |
110 |
| Fleetwood |
13 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
104 |
| Leyland Motors |
14 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
19 |
104 |
| Blackpool |
14 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
14 |
91 |
| Chorley |
13 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
15 |
83 |
| Kendal |
13 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
18 |
79 |
| Barrow |
13 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
31 |
78 |
| Darwen |
13 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
25 |
64 |
| Carnforth |
13 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
0 |
9 |
58 |
| Preston |
13 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
1 |
14 |
54 |
| Leyland & Farington |
13 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
1 |
22* |
52 |
* 2 points deducted for slow over rate
MATCH ACTION
ADAM PARKER TAKES LEYLAND TO A DRAW
Blackpool 196-8, Leyland 167-8
By Gerry Wolstenholme
A superb fighting innings by Leyland professional Adam Parker earned his side a draw at Stanley Park on Saturday. He went to the crease at 49-2 and was still there with 73 not out when Leyland retired undefeated with 167-8 after their 50 overs. This was in reply to Blackpool's 196-8 to which Justin Kreusch contributed a top score of 84.
Leyland won the toss put Blackpool in to bat and immediately made inroads in the Blackpool batting when Brian Tennant trapped David Newton offering no stroke leg before wicket for one with only four runs on the board. Charles Boucher and Kreusch then took the total untroubled to 53 before the former edged James Wright through to wicketkeeper Stuart Parker who held the catch and he had gone for 33.
Then came the best partnership of the innings between Kreusch and youngster Luis Reece, who is going to become a considerable force in NPL cricket. They put on exactly 100 runs before Adam Parker returned to the attack and began a fine second spell of pace bowling. He had Reece, a very good 40 made from 71 balls with one four, playing early at a slower ball and the resultant catch went gently to Shaun Dunk at mid-on. And in his following over Parker had Michael Taylor splendidly caught by a diving Chris Parkinson at mid-wicket before he had scored and Blackpool were 157-4.
Leyland captured the prize wicket of Kreusch at 173 when Zubir Patel bowled him for 84 made from just 76 balls with 10 fours spanked all around the ground. The rest of the Blackpool batting caved in as they chased late runs. Patel bowled Paul Danson for four at 170-6, Adam Parker accounted for Prash Aga for one in similar fashion at 184-7 and from the final ball Parkinson took another excellent catch from a skied shot by Michael Moore. The ball went so high that the batsmen had completed two runs when the catch was taken; Moore was gone for nine and with Richard Gleeson nine not our, Blackpool closed on 196-8 with Adam Parker taking 3-45, Patel 3-30 from six overs, Tennant 1-24 and Wright 1-23.
Leyland began their reply steadily and had advanced to 29 when Moore, who had missed Alex Mercer at point when the batsman had scored seven, took an excellent diving catch at backward point off Kreusch to dismiss Parkinson for 12. Patel helped Mercer take the total to 49 and then he was adjudged leg before wicket to Reece for 10 and one run later the patient Mercer, 18, essayed a pull off Reece, miscued and skied the ball to mid-on where Gleeson took the catch.
Wright had failed to get off the mark when he edged Andy Armstrong to James Smith behind the stumps and that was 55-4. But the dependable Charlie Williams came in and helped Adam Parker take the total to 73 before, on 12, he too skied a catch to mid-on off Gleeson and Reece took a comfortable catch. Tennant very quickly, and rashly, flashed at a ball from the returning Kreusch and Smith took the edge and he was gone for nought at 77-6 and it was 87-7 when Kreusch bowled Tom Coxhead for nought and Leyland were in deep trouble.
The two Parkers then began to consolidate with Adam making most of the runs but Stuart keeping him watchful company. Adam played some sparkling shots all around the ground but he lost Stuart when he had made 12 when he too rashly chased a wide ball from Reece to find the safe hands of Smith and Leyland were 135-8 and on the verge of defeat.
But in came Shaun Dunk and he and Adam Parker kept out everything Blackpool could throw, or bowl, at them and they safely negotiated the final overs with fielders crowded all around the bat so that Leyland finished with a draw at 167-8. Adam Parker's excellent 73 not out came from 69 balls with 11 fours while Dunk survived 25 balls for his seven not out. For Blackpool Kreusch had 3-59, Reece 3-24, Gleeson 1-38 and Armstrong 1-15.
Leyland Pro Adam Parker plays Blackpool captain Paul Danson to mid-on
The Leyland batsman lets the ball from Luis Reece go
Sean Dunk awaits the next ball from Richard Gleeson
Blackpool surround Sean Dunk in the last over
Its a Draw
A happy Adam Parker and Sean Dunk return to the pavillion after gaining a draw
SUNDAY STROLL FOR KENDAL
Kendal 239-1, St Annes 216
By Gerry Wolstenholme
In the second round of the Thwaites Cup on Sunday at Vernon Road Kendal comfortably defeated St Annes after they had posted 239-1 from their 40 overs. St Annes did get within 23 runs, being 216 all out, but in the later stages they were always up against it and unlikely to pull off victory.
Kendal won the toss, batted and made hay while the sun shone. Ikram Ullah, 93 from 115 balls with nine fours and one six, and Kevin Howarth, 101 not out from 115 balls with 11 fours, put on a massive 189 for the first wicket in 36 overs. Ullah then fell leg before wicket to Arshad Khan and Terry Hunte came to the wicket. He played a little cameo innings, giving Howarth just the support he needed to reach his century and finished on 29 not out with three fours and one six and made from just 16 balls. Kendal's 239-1 was a formidable total to chase and St Annes needed to score quickly from the start.
The evergreen Adrian Darlington started off that very way and although he lost Adam Cotton, caught behind by Ullah off Howarth for 11 at 22-1 in the third over, he and Gareth Evans kept St Annes in the hunt with a partnership of 83 in 27 overs. At that point Darlington was leg before wicket to Ben Simm and it was 105-2. In came Ian Austin and Kabir Khan brought himself into the attack, a ploy that paid rich dividends when he bowled the dangerous Austin for four. Khan almost immediately retired from the attack.
Duncan Whalley made 17 before he holed out to Howarth off Dilawar Khan and it was 141-4 and when Evans fell for 63 made from 74 balls with five fours St Annes were in trouble at 173-5. A direct hit from Tony Yasin ran out Stephen Twist for 16 at 178-6, Arshad Khan, four, was caught and bowled by Chris Miller at 185-7 and Ullah stumped Joe Davies off Dilawar Khan for four at 191-8. Russ Bradley struck two fine sixes off Miller before Yasin caught him as he attempted a third and he was gone for 15 at 209-9.
Dave Taylor, eight not out, and Michael Baer, two, tried to bring St Annes closer but it was an impossible task and from the final ball of the innings Ullah stumped Baer off Miller and St Annes, all out for 216, had lost by 23 runs. Dilawar Khan took 3-35, Miller 3-44, Kabir Khan 1-12, Howarth 1-30 and Simm 1-41.
St Annes captain Ian Auatin bowls to Kevin Howarth
Adam Cotton bowling to Ikram Ullah
