By Michael Latham
Blackpool's ability to come out on top in tight finishes again manifested itself on a day of shocks in the3D Sports Northern Premier League when the leaders lost and the bottom club won.
While the top two sides, Leyland and Kendal, both lost Blackpool prevailed in a dramatic, low-scoring classic at Stanley Park to move above Kendal into second place just five points behind Leyland.
Netherfield captain Chris Parry's decision to insert Blackpool appeared justified as the home side were dismissed for 113 with Callum Ferguson taking 4 for 34. But superb seam bowling from Richard Gleeson 3 for 35 and Luis Reece 5 for 40 helped bowl out Netherfield for 101 and give Paul Danson's men a 15-point haul.
Netherfields pro Callum Ferguson bowls Blackpool's Michael Penney |
Blackpool opener Luis Reece is bowled by Scott Clement |
Netherfields Oliver Hill is trapped LBW by Blackpool's pro Seejewa Weerakoon |
Blackpool's Richard Gleeson celebrates bowling Netherfield's Tommy Prime |
Leaders Leyland, meanwhile, lost for the first time this season, going down by 51 runs at West Cliff.
Preston's fortunes have been revitalised since skipper Glenn Johnstone returned from injury and he has steered them to two successive 15-point wins. Lukman Vahaluwala's superb 95 (one six and 11 fours off 146 balls) was the mainstay of Preston's 197 for 8 with Leyland captain Dave Makinson taking 5 for 68.
Leyland were then bowled out for 146, Joe Davies taking 3 for 26 including the vital wicket of pro Ameer Khan, bowled for 34, though James Rounding (25 not out) and Steven Pallett 20 delayed the inevitable with a battling last wicket stand.
Kendal suffered a batting collapse at Vernon Road, losing their last six wickets for just 17 runs as they went down to a 46-run defeat at defending champions St Annes. Former Pakistan Test player Atiq Uz-Zaman hit a superb 106 for the home side with Stephen Twist (41) providing invaluable support, Ben Simm taking five wickets for the visitors. St Annes pro Mansoor Ahmed then spun his side to victory with 6 for 50 including the wicket of Terry Hunte, who top-scored with a fine 84. Kendal captain/wicket-keeper Ikram Ullah missed the game due to a finger injury sustained in Friday's T20 game at Barrow.
Barrow, meanwhile, had a resounding 89 run victory over Darwen at the Ernest Pass Memorial Ground with their decision to blood the town's promising youngsters wherever possible again paying dividends. Neil Lauderdale was rewarded for fine form in the Second XI and repaid the faith with 56, sharing a superb seventh-wicket partnership of 104 with 14-year-old Liam Livingstone who scored 78 not out. The consistent Stuart Hampson took 4 for 48 and Kamran Anwar 3 for 18 for the visitors. Barrow captain Daryl Wearing then took 5 for 27, including the vital wicket of pro Atif Ashraf for 32, as Darwen were dismissed for 109, Livingstone also taking two wickets.
Morecambe had to settle for a winning draw against a depleted Carnforth side at Woodhill Lane despite amassing 225 for 7 thanks to Vishnal Goyal's 77 and pro Bruce Martin's 44. John Denwood and pro Ryan Bailey each took three wickets for the visitors, who closed at 164 for 8 due largely to Bailey's 96. Martin collected 5 for 67 in 24 overs for Morecambe.
Finally there was joy for bottom club Fleetwood who earned their first win of the season- a resounding six-wicket success at Lune Road against Lancaster. Michael Walling's 67 provided the cornerstone of Lancaster's 179 but Adam Parker's superb innings of 80 not out saw Fleetwood past their target in style.
Blackpool coach Mick Moore has kindly provided this report of his side's memorable victory over Netherfield at Stanley Park:
Blackpool`s young conquering heroes, under the expert leadership of Paul Danson, despatched yet another NPCL opponent at Stanley Park and moved up to second in the table after a thrilling 12-runs victory over Netherfield in a low-scoring game.
Shown the respect of being invited to bat by visiting skipper Chris Parry, Blackpool started poorly, losing Adrian Darlington 3 with only 6 runs on the board, caught behind by Tommy Prime off Scott Clement.
When Alex Smith was disastrously run out soon after the home team were in big trouble at 10 for 2, from which they never really recovered. With the score on 21 Luis Reece was third to go, bowled by Clement playing a shot he will surely want to forget.
The only real resistance thereafter came from a well struck 34 by professional Saj Weerakoon, before he was adjudged caught behind down the leg side off Netherfield pro Callum Ferguson and a stubborn 19 not out from captain Paul Danson, who decided to drop himself down to no.8, surely too low for a player of his ability.
There were no partnerships of any worth, due to a mix of tight, accurate bowling (Clement 2 for 23 off 10, Ferguson 4 for 34 off 15 and Cumberland county spinner Chris Miller 3 for 35 from 11.5 overs) and some very mediocre batting which led to Blackpool being dismissed for a well-below par 113 in 42.5 overs.
RESULTS
DIVISION ONE
Barrow v Darwen
Barrow (15pts) defeated Darwen (2pts) by 89 runs
Barrow 198 for 9 (L Livingstone 78, N Lauderdale 56, S Hampson 4 for 48), Darwen 109 (D Wearing 5 for 27)
Blackpool v Netherfield
Blackpool (15pts) defeated Netherfield (3pts) by 12 runs
Blackpool 113 (C Ferguson 4 for 34), Netherfield 101 (L Reece 5 for 40)
Lancaster v Fleetwood
Fleetwood (12pts) defeated Lancaster (2pts) by 6 wickets
Lancaster 179 (M Walling 67), Fleetwood 180 for 4 (A Parker 80 not out)
Morecambe v Carnforth
Morecambe (9pts) winning draw; Carnforth (5pts)
Morecambe 225 for 7 (V Goyal 77, B Martin 44), Carnforth 164 for 8 (R Bailey 96, B Martin 5 for 67)
Preston v Leyland
Preston (15pts) defeated Leyland (3pts) by 51 runs
Preston 197 for 8 (L Vahaluwala 95, D Makinson 5 for 68), Leyland 146
St Annes v Kendal
St Annes (15pts) defeated Kendal (6pts) by 46 runs
St Annes 236 for 9 (Atiq Uz-Zaman 106, S Twist 41, B Simm 5 for 67), Kendal 190 (T Hunte 84, Mansoor Ahmed 6 for 50)
3D SPORTS NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Division One
| Club |
P |
W15 |
W12 |
D4 |
D1 |
L |
NR4 |
BP |
Pts |
| Leyland |
9 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
15 |
93 |
| Blackpool |
9 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
88 |
| Kendal |
9 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
21 |
87 |
| St Annes |
9 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
18 |
80 |
| Morecambe |
9 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
76 |
| CHORLEY |
9 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
15* |
71 |
| Lancaster |
10 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
32 |
70 |
| Barrow |
10 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
20 |
68 |
| Carnforth |
9 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
18 |
66 |
| Netherfield |
9 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
22 |
59 |
| Preston |
9 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
16 |
50 |
| Darwen |
9 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
0 |
19 |
43 |
| Fleetwood |
10 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
0 |
16 |
33 |
* 2 Points deducted for slow over rate
DIVISION TWO
Carnforth v Morecambe
Morecambe (9pts) winning draw; Carnforth (4pts)
Morecambe 292 for 6 (B Akrigg 104, G Maje 94), Carnforth 167 for 7 (L Potter 57 not out)
Darwen v Barrow
Barrow (15pts) defeated Darwen (3pts) by 49 runs
Barrow 160 (C Davies 4 for 37), Darwen 111 (J Nicholson 5 for 18)
Fleetwood v Lancaster
Lancaster (12pts) defeated Fleetwood (2pts) by 5 wickets
Fleetwood 149 (J Bell 50, T Morrelly 6 for 63), Lancaster 150 for 5 (R Child 50, I Burstow 52 not out)
Kendal v St Annes
St Annes (12pts) defeated Kendal (1pt) by 4 wickets
Kendal 133 (L O'Dea 4 for 23), St Annes 134 for 6 (A Kellett 48)
Leyland v Preston
Leyland (9pts) winning draw; Preston (4pts)
Leyland 168 for 9 (A Richardson 65, A Starkie 4 for 39), Preston 128 for 9 (T Asfar 4 for 17)
Netherfield v Blackpool
Netherfield (12pts) defeated Blackpool (5pts) by 2 wickets
Blackpool 185 for 9 (R Bracewell 43), Netherfield 189 for 8 ( J Winder 87 not out, S Jones 52, A Armstrong 6 for 82)
3D SPORTS NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Division Two
| Club |
P |
W15 |
W12 |
D4 |
D1 |
L |
NR4 |
BP |
Pts |
| Chorley |
9 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
108 |
| Blackpool |
9 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
16 |
96 |
| Barrow |
10 |
2 |
2 |
4** |
0 |
2 |
0 |
23 |
94 |
| Morecambe |
9 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
22 |
81 |
| St Annes |
9 |
1 |
2 |
3** |
2 |
1 |
0 |
26 |
80 |
| Lancaster |
10 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
12 |
74 |
| Netherfield |
9 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
8 |
70 |
| Darwen |
9 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
17 |
62 |
| Leyland |
9 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
22 |
60 |
| Preston |
9 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
11 |
54 |
| Kendal |
9 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
16 |
41 |
| Fleetwood |
10 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
1 |
16 |
33 |
| Carnforth |
9 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
15 |
30 |
** Tied Match 5 pionts each
Michael Latham's Featured Match
Blackpool v Netherfield
Blackpool coach Mick Moore has kindly provided this report of his side's memorable victory over Netherfield at Stanley Park
Blackpool's young conquering heroes, under the expert leadership of Paul Danson, despatched yet another NPCL opponent at Stanley Park and moved up to second in the table after a thrilling 12-runs victory over Netherfield in a low-scoring game.
Shown the respect of being invited to bat by visiting skipper Chris Parry, Blackpool started poorly, losing Adrian Darlington 3 with only 6 runs on the board, caught behind by Tommy Prime off Scott Clement.
When Alex Smith was disastrously run out soon after the home team were in big trouble at 10 for 2, from which they never really recovered. With the score on 21 Luis Reece was third to go, bowled by Clement playing a shot he will surely want to forget.
Blackpool's James Smith is caught and bowled by Chris Miller |
The only real resistance thereafter came from a well struck 34 by professional Saj Weerakoon, before he was adjudged caught behind down the leg side off Netherfield pro Callum Ferguson and a stubborn 19 not out from captain Paul Danson, who decided to drop himself down to no8 surely too low for a player of his ability.
There were no partnerships of any worth, due to a mix of tight, accurate bowling Clement 2 for 23 off 10, Ferguson 4 for 34 off 15 and Cumberland county spinner Chris Miller 3 for 35 from 11.5 overs and some very mediocre batting which led to Blackpool being dismissed for a well-below par 113 in 42.5 overs.
Scott Clement appeals for LBW against Blackpool's Jamie Hogarth |
Many of the home spectators and probably the whole of the Netherfield contingent must have thought the target to be too insignificant to give Blackpool any chance of victory. Not Captain Marvel & his band of warriors!! No way! The tea-time pep talk was something special, focussing on Blackpool's new-found positive approach and magnificent team spirit.
Danson reminded his boys that today's opponents had recently been dismissed for only 51 earlier this season and he demanded a performance of the highest quality from his bowlers and fielders alike, telling his players not to give an inch and to fight all the way to the last ball whatever the outcome. The players responded magnificently.
A fired-up Luis Reece was simply too quick and hostile for the Netherfield openers, and the visitors were reduced to 10 for 2 in no time. Parry was bowled by Reece and Craig Walmsley was caught by Andy Hogarth in the gully. This could have been 10 for 3 if Ferguson had not survived a very confident appeal for caught behind off Rick Gleeson who again was on fine form.
Scott Clement becomes one of Luis Reece's five victims |
Ferguson looked as if he might take the game away from Blackpool, until he was well caught by Danson at first slip off left arm spinner Weerakoon. Again the batsman did not offer to leave the crease until the umpires had conferred and given him out for 27. 48 for 3 quickly became 50 for 5 when Gleeson picked up two wickets in one over having Ben Haddrick lbw and Graeme Baker caught behind.
Gleeson bagged his third victim soon after when Prime was bowled and when Weerakoon collected his second scalp of the day, trapping Oliver Hill lbw, Netherfield were 69 for 7.
Former captain Clement showed some stern resistance and whilst he remained at the crease Netherfield still had a glimmer of hope. However, that glimmer became dimmer as soon as Reece was brought back into the attack. He continued where he had left off in his first spell and proved just too good for the Netherfield lower order, finishing with figures of 11.5 overs 3 maidens 5 for 40, his best return of the season so far.
Clement was caught behind for a valiant 18, Miller caught at square leg by Michael Moore and Marc Hadwin was the last man to go, again caught by Moore, this time a fine effort to safely pouch a swirling shot to leg.
Gleeson`s 3 for 35 off 13 was just reward for his efforts, bringing his tally for the season to 21. Saj Weerakoon bowled 16 immaculate overs including 6 maidens, claiming 2 for 16.
Worthy of note were those two outstanding running catches by fielding coach "Bash" Moore and another fine performance behind the stumps from vice-captain James Smith, who bagged another couple of victims.
Michael Moore claims the catch that won the game dismissing Marc Hadwin |
This was the original victory snatched from the jaws of defeat, eclipsing even last week`s run chase at Darwen. It was another tremendous effort and 15 more points.
I must offer a big thank-you to the hard working Mike Latham for his superb action photos. Some memorable moments there, Mike
