By Michael Latham
Chesney Hughes was in brilliant form for Fleetwood |
St Annes extended their lead at the top of the Furness Building Society Northern Premier League (in association with 3D Sports) to 15 points as they demolished Carnforth in double-quick time while second placed Chorley suffered a shock home defeat against Lancaster.
Third placed Preston earned a winning draw against defending champions Netherfield while Morecambe strengthened their challenge for a top four finish with a convincing win at Darwen.
With heavy rain forecast to spread from the south-west during the afternoon St Annes made sure they beat the weather by wrapping up a 12-points win at Lodge Quarry well before three o'clock.
Teenaged opening bowler Ben Willis starred by taking the first four Carnforth wickets as the home side slumped to 40 all out- the lowest division one total of the season. Professional Dinuka Hettiarachchi weighed in with another four wickets as Carnforth were skittled out in 24.1 overs.
Such was the abject display of batting by the home side tea was not prepared in the pavilion. So the teams came straight out again for former Carnforth batsman Atiq Uz-Zaman to blaze an undefeated 29 as the paltry target was reached in just 4.4 overs.
Lancaster skipper Tim Barry steered his side to a six wickets win at Chorley with one over to spare, hitting a superbly time unbeaten 93 off 126 balls with 17 boundaries. Michael Stevens (38) and Brendan Hetherington (24 not out) supported their skipper in the victory chase.
Chorley's Australian professional Chris Hartley had earlier hit his first century for the club, batting through 158 balls for an undefeated 106 with 12 fours and one six. But Hartley, the Queensland state wicket-keeper, often fought a lone battle against the Lancaster pro Mario Olivier and spinner BV Rhagavendra who each took three wickets. Skipper Jack Catterall was next top scorer with 16 in Chorley's 180 for 7.
This was the second time in recent weeks that Chorley have lost to a side at home that began the day bottom of the table, having previously been defeated by Carnforth.
Preston had the better of a drawn game against Netherfield in a game that finished at five minutes to eight after the visitors took three hours 20 minutes to bowl their 50 overs. Opener Sajid Patel (59) and Lukman Vahaluwala (50) each hit half-centuries in Preston's 208 with Scott Clement and Chris Miller each taking three wickets for the home side.
Netherfield were on the back foot after Bilal Asad claimed the wicket of in-form opener Craig Walmsley caught behind first ball. Darren Nelson then took four for 52 for Preston including the key wicket of Australian professional Glen Batticciotto, who was caught by Andrew Starkie for 40 as the hosts finished short of their target on 180 for 7, the eighth wicket pair of Simon Little and Clement batting out for a draw.
West Indies U19s star Chesney Hughes again underlined his potential with a superb all-round performance as Fleetwood romped to a six wickets win at Fox Lane over a Leyland side badly missing their unavailable captain David Makinson.
Hughes, an Anguillan born left-handed bat and slow left arm bowler, looked a Test player of the future as he took six wickets for 49 to help bowl out Leyland for 149. Luis Reece battled through 36 overs to top score with 37 for the home side. Adam Breakell and Michael Clinning each took two wickets to support Hughes in an impressive display of out cricket by James Ellis's much improved side.
Hughes then hit an imperious undefeated 78 to steer Fleetwood home a shade before six o'clock with just under 20 overs in hand. He hit seven fours and five sixes and faced just 87 balls with professional Hendrik Van Der Dussen (34) and Clinning (29) providing valuable support.
Leyland's Luis Reece pulls Chesney Hughes to the boundary |
Chesney Hughes appeals for LBW |
Jono Gates exploited a slow-paced Birch Hall pitch to perfection, taking six for 36 as Darwen were demolished for just 71 by Tommy Clough's rejuvenated Morecambe side. Only John Cordingley, who battled through 78 balls for an undefeated 23 showed the application needed to combat the lean and hungry-looking visitors. Skipper Andrew Cook survived 30 balls before he was last man out, caught by Ikram Ullah at short leg off Clough with nine overs remaining.
Earlier Ikram Ullah (67) and Andy Armstrong (36) posted 105 for the first wicket and Charles Boucher hit an undefeated 51 to help Morecambe to 195 for 7, But Boucher then sustained a suspected fractured wrist while fielding and was taken to hospital for treatment. Gareth Cordingley took two wickets in two balls in a rare high-spot in a dismal Darwen effort, including a first-ball leg before decision against pro Mandla Mashimbyi.
Morecambe keeper Lewis Edge makes a brilliant stumping |
Morecambe's Jono Gates celebrates a leg before decision to dismiss Darwen's Kamran Anwar |
Kendal came out of an exciting game at Stanley Park with a winning draw against Blackpool with the result in doubt until the final over. Kendal professional and skipper Ross McMillan hit 52 off 72 balls and opener Kevin Howarth 48 off 102 balls in the visitors 170 for 7 with home professional Sajeewa Weerakoon taking three for 54.
John Mounsey anchored the Blackpool reply with 63 off 124 balls before he was adjudged leg before to McMillan. 47-year-old Andrew Dugdale grabbed the vital wicket of Weerakoon, athletically caught and bowled for a duck. Last season's leading amateur wickets-taker Ben Simm took four for 62 with his off spin as the home side finished 11 runs short of victory on 160 for 8.
FIRST DIVISION SCORES:
BLACKPOOL v KENDAL
Kendal (8pts) winning draw; Blackpool (5pts)
Kendal 170 for 7 (R McMillan 52, K Howarth 48), Blackpool 160 for 8 (J Mounsey 63, B Simm 4 for 62)
CARNFORTH v ST ANNES
St Annes (12pts) defeated Carnforth (0pts) by ten wickets
Carnforth 40 (D Hettiarachchi 4 for 12, B Willis 4 for 14), St Annes 43 for 0
CHORLEY v LANCASTER
Lancaster (12pts) defeated Chorley (3pts) by six wickets
Chorley 180 for 7 (C Hartley 106no), Lancaster 183 for 4 (T Barry 93no)
DARWEN v MORECAMBE
Morecambe (15pts) defeated Darwen (2pts) by 124 runs
Morecambe 195 for 7 (Ikram Ullah 67, C Boucher 51no), Darwen 71 (J Gates 6 for 36)
LEYLAND v FLEETWOOD
Fleetwood (12pts) defeated Leyland (1pt) by six wickets
Leyland 149 (C Hughes 6 for 49), Fleetwood 150 for 4 (C Hughes 78no)
NETHERFIELD v PRESTON
Preston (9pts) winning draw; Netherfield (7pts)
Preston 208 (S Patel 59, L Vahaluwala 50), Netherfield 180 for 7 (D Nelson 4 for 52)
Barrow no game
.
FURNESS BUILDING SOCIETY
( INCORPORATING 3D SPORTS )
NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Division One
| Club |
P |
W15 |
W12 |
D4 |
D1 |
L |
NR4 |
BP |
Pts |
| St Annes |
14 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
16 |
130 |
| Chorley |
14 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
22 |
115 |
| Preston |
14 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
12* |
109 |
| Morecambe |
14 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
19 |
102 |
| Blackpool |
14 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
25 |
91 |
| Leyland |
14 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
25 |
90 |
| Kendal |
14 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
29 |
89 |
| Netherfield |
13 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
36 |
86 |
| Fleetwood |
14 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
21 |
83 |
| Darwen |
14 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
20* |
79 |
| Barrow |
13 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
13 |
77 |
| Lancaster |
14 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
11 |
68 |
| Carnforth |
14 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
28 |
68 |
* 2 points deducted for slow over rate
Divison Two
Leyland close the gap
In Division Two leaders Lancaster saw their lead cut to just five points after they were held to a draw by Chorley while Leyland won convincingly at Fleetwood.
Iain Parkinson (68), Iain Burstow (54no) and Oliver Carter (47no) all contributed towards Lancaster's 219 for 4 at Lune Road. But Chorley held on for a draw at 177 for 7
Leyland openers Nathan McDonnell (82) and Wes Royle (42no) took their side to the verge of victory at Broadwater with a superb opening stand. Chris Dovey's side earned a nine wickets win after bowling out the home side for 130 despite Mark Emsley's 40.
Blackpool kept up the pressure in third place after a seven wickets win at Shap Road. Kendal were dismissed for 100 despite Paul Dodds 40 with Harrison Clark taking four for 11. John Caunce (38) and captain Steven Mercer (36no) then saw the visitors home.
Fourth-placed Darwen had the worst of a draw at Morecambe with Graham Ainslie making 74 not out as the visitors held on at 153 for 9. Michael Fisher hit 78 in Morecambe's 198.
Preston were bowled out for just 52 at West Cliff as Netherfield cantered to a ten wickets win. St Annes's Richard Thomas took five for 20 as Carnforth mustered 102 at Vernon Road, Lee Barnes making a defiant unbeaten 41. Gareth Costin (40no) and Adam Taylor (32no) saw last season's champions home by seven wickets.
SECOND DIVISION SCORES:
FLEETWOOD v LEYLAND
Leyland (12pts) defeated Fleetwood (0pts) by 9 wickets
Fleetwood 130, Leyland 131 for 1 (N McDonnell 82, W Royle 45no)
KENDAL v BLACKPOOL
Blackpool (12pts) defeated Kendal (0pts) by 7 wickets
Kendal 100 (P Dodds 42, H Clarke 4 for 11), Blackpool 103 for 3
LANCASTER v CHORLEY
Lancaster (9pts) winning draw; Chorley (3pts)
Lancaster 219 for 4 (I Parkinson 68, I Burstow 54no), Chorley 177 for 7
MORECAMBE v DARWEN
Morecambe (10pts) winning draw; Darwen (5pts)
Morecambe 198 (M Fisher 78), Darwen 153 for 9 (G Ainslie 74)
PRESTON v NETHERFIELD
Netherfield (12pts) defeated Preston (0pts) by 10 wickets
Preston 52, Netherfield 55 for 0
ST ANNES v CARNFORTH
St Annes (12pts) defeated Carnforth (0pts) by 7 wickets
Carnforth 102 ( L Barnes 41no, R Thomas 5 for 20), St Annes 105 for 3 (G Costin 40no)
Barrow no game
FURNESS BUILDING SOCIETY
( INCORPORATING 3D SPORTS )
NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Division Two
| Club |
P |
W15 |
W12 |
D4 |
D1 |
L |
NR4 |
BP |
Pts |
| Lancaster |
14 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
20 |
138 |
| Leyland |
14 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
16 |
133 |
| Blackpool |
14 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
10 |
123 |
| Darwen |
14 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
24 |
99 |
| Chorley |
14 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
12 |
97 |
| Morecambe |
14 |
0 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
22 |
95 |
| Netherfield |
13 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
23 |
87 |
| St Annes |
14 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
19 |
81 |
| Fleetwood |
14 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
2 |
15 |
76 |
| Kendal |
14 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
1 |
11 |
69 |
| Preston |
14 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
12 |
69 |
| Carnforth |
14 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
20 |
62 |
| Barrow |
13 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
21 |
62 |
