By Michael Latham
Reigning champions St Annes signalled their intentions of retaining their title after defeated Fylde coast rivals Blackpool at Stanley Park to move upto third in the 3D Sports Northern Premier League table.
Mansoor Ahmed, St Annes's Pakistani professional, was again their hero with bat and ball, following up his innings of 71 with a match-winning leg-spin bowling spell of 5 for 29 as Blackpool were dismissed for 90. Opener Gareth Evans carried his bat through St Annes's innings of 158 for 8. Blackpool were forced to field a sub-professional in Australian Cameron Borgas after Sajeewa Weerakoon was ruled out by illness.
Carnforth stay second after a winning draw at Fleetwood. Opener Darren Moore was in the runs again, hitting 69 and sharing in a first-wicket stand of 119 with Tom Barnfield 58. But Fleetwood's Sri Lankan professional Nisithi Rupasinghe returned figures of 6 for 63 to pin the visitors back to 164 for 8 in a game reduced to 43 overs per side. Fleetwood struggled to 117 for 6 in reply, the in-form John Denwood taking 3 for 26 in 14 overs.
Preston's Pakistani professional Bilal Asad hit the first century of the division one season but finished on the losing side at Darwen. Bilal Asad's 106 and Sajid Patel's 55 helped Preston post 205 for 5 in a 42-over game at Birch Hall. But 57 from Darwen pro Atif Ashraf and a superb innings of 99 not out from Gareth Cordingley, who hit six sixes, saw the home side to a six-wicket victory with two balls to spare.
Netherfield finally hit form with the bat but had to settle for a winning draw against Lancaster at Parkside Road. Australian professional Callum Ferguson top-scored with 83 and Craig Walmsley and John Huck also posted half-centuries in the home side's imposing total of 236 for 6. Lancaster's Pakistan Test-playing professional Taufeeq Umar hit 74 as the visitors closed on 182 for 7.
Chorley's Josh Tolley shared in a century opening stand with skipper Jack Catterall |
Kendal professional Ross McMillan hit an unbeaten half-century as Kendal reached 171 for 8 at the Ernest Pass Memorial Ground, Pasan Wanasinghe and skipper Darry Wearing each taking three wickets for Barrow. The home side salvaged a draw as they closed on 116 for 8, Ben Simm and Kevin Howarth each taking three wickets for Kendal.
The game between Chorley and Morecambe was ruined by the weather as the home side emerged with a winning draw. An opening stand of 107 between Josh Tolley (54) and skipper Jack Catterall (41) helped Chorley reach 169 for 8 in 39 overs, Will Moulton hitting four sixes in his innings of 40 not out. Graham Lee returned figures of 5 for 39 for Morecambe, his first five-wicket haul in the Northern League.
Callum Ferguson top scored for Netherfield |
Morecame struggled against the pace of Chorley’s South African professional Friedel de Wet who took 4 for 65. Vishal Goyal hit an impressive 52 for the visitors who closed on 142 for 7 after 34 overs in reply.
RESULTS
Barrow v Kendal
Kendal (8pts) winning draw; Barrow (3pts)
Kendal 171 for 8 (R McMillan 57 not out, P Wanasinghe 3 for 63, D Wearing 3 for 81), Barrow 116 for 8 (K Howarth 3 for 24, B Simm 3 for 31)
Blackpool v St Annes
St Annes (15pts) beat Blackpool (2pts) by 68 runs
St Annes 158 for 8 (Mansoor Ahmed 71, G Evans 68 not out), Blackpool 90 (Mansoor Ahmed 5 for 29)
Chorley v Morecambe
Chorley (8pts) winning draw; Morecambe (4pts)
Chorley 169 for 8 (J Tolley 54, J Catterall 41, W Moulton 40 not out, G Lee 5 for 39), Morecambe 142 for 7 (V Goyal 52, F de Wet 4 for 65, R Purnell 3 for 60)
Darwen v Preston
Darwen (12pts) defeated Preston (3pts) by 6 wickets
Preston 205 for 5 (Bilal Asad 106, S Patel 55), Darwen 208 for 5 (G Cordingley 99 not out, Atif Ashraf 57)
Fleetwood v Carnforth
Carnforth (7pts) winning draw; Fleetwood (3pts)
Carnforth 166 for 8 (D Moore 69, T Barnfield 58, N Rupasinghe 6 for 63), Fleetwood 117 for 6 (J Denwood 3 for 26)
Netherfield v Lancaster
Netherfield (9pts) winning draw; Lancaster (5pts)
Netherfield 236 for 6 (C Ferguson 83, C Walmsley 63, J Huck 53 not out, D Milligan 3 for 63), Lancaster 182 for 7 (Taufeeq Umar 74)
3D SPORTS NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Division One
| Club |
P |
W15 |
W12 |
D4 |
D1 |
L |
NR4 |
BP |
Pts |
| Leyland |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
45 |
| Carnforth |
4 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
39 |
| St Annes |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
36 |
| Kendal |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
35 |
| Blackpool |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
29 |
| Morecambe |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
28 |
| Darwen |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
27 |
| Lancaster |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
12 |
26 |
| Chorley |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
8 |
24 |
| Barrow |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
16 |
| Netherfield |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
16 |
| Preston |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
10 |
| Fleetwood |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
8 |
SECOND DIVISION (2nd XI)
Carnforth v Fleetwood
Carnforth (12pts) defeated Fleetwood (2pts) by 4 wickets
Fleetwood 142 (M Emsley 68, G Baxendale 5 for 62, M Bradley 4 for 17), Carnforth 146 for 6 (B Harrison 42)
Kendal v Barrow
Barrow (7pts) winning draw; Kendal (3 pts)
Barrow 150 for 7 (R Adams 46, G Reynolds 44, D Phillips 3 for 20), Kendal 134 for 7 (G Reynolds 3 for 10)
Lancaster v Netherfield
Netherfield (7pts) winning draw; Lancaster (3pts)
Netherfield 120 for 7 (S Jones 43), Lancaster 107 for 9 (F Nixon 4 for 33, P Hartley 3 for 28)
Morecambe v Chorley
Chorley (15pts) defeated Morecambe (3pts) by 20 runs
Chorley 114 (N Milner 7 for 42), Morecambe 84
Preston v Darwen
Preston (15pts) defeated Darwen (3pts) by 31 runs
Preston 75 (J Winter 48, C Davies 6 for 27), Darwen 44 (A Starkie 4 for 7)
St Annes v Blackpool
Blackpool (8pts) winning draw; St Annes (6pts)
Blackpool 192 for 9 (S Mercer 54, D Bartholomew 4 for 56), St Annes 163 for 6 (A Kellett 46, A Armstrong 3 for 43)
3D SPORTS NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Division Two
| Club |
P |
W15 |
W12 |
D4 |
D1 |
L |
NR4 |
BP |
Pts |
| Chorley |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
54 |
| Blackpool |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
38 |
| Lancaster |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
32 |
| Morecambe |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
30 |
| Barrow |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
26 |
| St Annes |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
26 |
| Netherfield |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
24 |
| Leyland |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
22 |
| Darwen |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
21 |
| Fleetwood |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
20 |
| Preston |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
18 |
| Carnforth |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
14 |
| Kendal |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
8 |
Michael Latham's Matches of the Day
Match 1
Thanks to Darwen chairman Matthew Grant for the report
Darwen v Preston
A thrilling Bank Holiday game at Birch Hall |
BILAL ASAD BECOMES THE SEASONS FIRST CENTURIAN
Darwen came back from the dead to pull off an amazing victory over Preston in the Northern League on Bank Holiday Monday at Birch Hall as the crowd was entertained to a run feast on a damp, overcast but warm spring day.
With the match reduced to a 42-over game Darwen were soon in trouble after they had put Preston in to bat.The Preston opening pair of Sajid Patel and club professional Bilal Asad took the Darwen opening attack apart as they added 147 before Patel fell for 55, Stumped by Jordan Clarke off the bowling of Darwen professional Atif Ashraf.
Darwen Wicket-keeper Jordan Clarke snaffled both openers |
Bilal Asad went on to make 106, the first century in the 3D Sports Northern Premier League Division One this season, before he fell to Mark Emery, being behind caught by keeper Jordan Clarke. Darwen were never on top in the field but the team worked hard to keep the scoring in check and when the Preston innings closed on 205 for 5 there was a general sigh of relief amongst the home supporters.
The Darwen innings was in trouble on 30 for two when Gareth Cordingley came to the crease to join professional Atif Ashraf. The pair moved the score to 87 before Ashraf holed out for 57 in the 26th over leaving Darwen facing a massive task of scoring over seven an over from the last 16 overs.
Atif Ashraf scored 57 and also took two wickets |
When John Cordingley fell for 9 with the total on 113 there looked no way back for Darwen. However, Gareth Cordingley and Mark Emery had other ideas and even though the light was fading fast both managed to see the ball clearly as they started to chip away at the total.
With the overs slipping away Darwen still looked second best as the run rate moved to more than ten-an-over. However Gareth Cordingley decided to take the attack to Preston and in the last 23 balls he faced he hit 51 runs whilst Emery chipped in with a rapid 31 to take Darwen home with only two balls to spare. Gareth Cordingley finished on 99 not out while Preston are still asking, how did we let that one slip away?
Gareth Cordingley was the hero - but with the bat not the ball |
Skipper Andrew Cook was delighted with his team's efforts, commenting: "Although it was tough on our bowlers and fielders today at no point did we let our heads drop. Atif gave us a solid foundation and once Gareth and Mark started to hit out I knew we had every chance of pulling this one out of the bag. It was exhilarating and great entertainment for the great crowd we had at Birch Hall."
Michael Latham's Matches of the Day
Match 2
Darwen v Preston
CENTURY OPENING STAND FOR CHORLEY
The weather eventually proved to be the winner as a fascinating May Day Bank Holiday fixture at Windsor Park ended in a winning draw to Chorley over visitors Morecambe.
Morecambe skipper Mark Lomas invited the home side to bat on winning the toss when a 48-over match got underway at 1-15pm in soggy, overcast conditions after heavy overnight rain. It was a tribute to the hard work of the Chorley ground-staff that any play was possible and the boundary on the far side of the ground near the nets was brought in because of the water-logging.
Fresh from their thrilling one-wicket victory over Netherfield, Chorley began in fine style as openers Josh Tolley and skipper Jack Catterall coped comfortably with the new ball threat of the impressive opening pair of Gareth Pedder and Jono Gates.
With both Morecambe bowlers struggling with their footholds Tolley drove and cut confidently while left-hander Catterall accumulated runs all around the wicket.
Josh Tolley looks to drive Gareth Pedder |
When the first break for rain came Chorley had moved on to 76 without loss after 21 overs.
After a delay of just over an hour, reducing the game to one of 39 overs, Tolley carried on where he left off, reaching an accomplished half-century in the 25th over and posting the century stand for the first wicket.
But a bowling change by Lomas, with pro Bruce Martin and the experienced Graham Lee entering the attack produced almost instant results.
Tolley fell for an impressive 54, caught by Pedder at backward point off Lee after an opening stand of 107 and next ball Craig Millward was LBW to Lee without scoring.
New batsman Ian Mawdsley avoided the hat-trick but Catterall soon perished, caught by Mark Woodhead at mid on off Martin. And when Mawdsley was LBW to Lee attempting a reverse sweep Chorley had slumped to 111 for 4.
Graham Lee traps Chorley's Ian Mawdesley LBW |
The wickets continued to tumble as professional Friedel de Wet was stumped by Damian Gudgeon off Lee and Mike Critchley run out by a direct hit from Martin to leave Chorley struggling at 118 for 6.
Will Moulton rescued the situation with some lovely clean hitting, striking one four and four sixes in an impressive innings of 40 not out made off only 23 balls.
But with Rex Purnell perishing to a Pedder catch off Lee and Nathan Cookson becoming a second stumping victim to Gudgeon, this time off Martin’s bowling, Chorley continued to lose wickets and they closed on 169 for 8.
Lee returned the first five-wicket haul of his Northern League career, taking 5 for 39 off 7 overs with Martin finishing with 2 for 61.
Morecambe's reply began disastrously as de Wet, fresh from a six-wicket haul on debut, worked up an impressive head of steam despite the damp conditions and showed he had a classical fast bowler's action.
Vishnal Goyal stands up to the pace of Friedel de Wet |
Phil Thornton was the first to fall, with Rex Purnell claiming a superb catch high above his head at cover after the Morecambe opener had creamed a cover drive off de Wet.
Woodhead fell to a Catterall catch at mid-wicket and Morecambe were struggling at 31 for 2 when the drizzle returned, forcing the players from the field for a 20-minute delay.
When play resumed Morecambe’s innings was reduced to 34 overs and opener Vishnal Goyal was anxious to make up for lost time with a superb batting display.
Vishnal Goyal hits Rex Purnell for a massive six |
Though Lomas became de Wet’s third victim, caught behind by Tolley, Goyal reached an accomplished 50 out of 71 in the 22nd over with a huge six off Purnell before he was bowled by de Wet for 52.
Morecambe's victory hopes continued to fade as Pedder was caught by Eastham off Purnell for a quick-fire 23 before pro Martin was caught behind off the veteran Chorley slow left-armer to leave the visitors 104 for 6.
With Chorley scenting victory and de Wet still working up a fair pace Phil Dennison and Tommy Clough dug in to salvage a draw.
Clough became Purnell's third victim when he was caught at mid-wicket by Millward but Dennison took control to steer his side to a batting point, finishing with 29 not out as the close to a fascinating day's cricket came just before 8pm. Morecambe finished on 142 for 7 with de Wet claiming 4 for 65 and Purnell 3 for 60. Young left-arm seamer Kieran McCullagh also bowled impressively with the new ball and troubled the early order batsmen with his accuracy.
