Match Day 25th April 2009
FURNESS BUILDING SOCIETY ( INCOPORATING 3D SPORTS) NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE
DEFEAT FOR REIGNING CHAMPIONS
By Michael Latham
Bilal Asad took seven wickets for Preston |
Netherfield began the defence of their Furness Building Society Northern Premier League (incorporating 3D Sports) title with a crushing defeat at West Cliff as Preston professional and captain Bilal Asad produced an inspired bowling spell.
Bilal Asad took 7 for 36 as Netherfield, playing their first league game after being inactive last Saturday, were bowled out for 134 in a game that finished in the gloaming at 8-16pm.
In a match reduced to 46 overs-per-side after lunch-time showers, Preston posted a challenging 205 for 7 thanks to an aggressive innings of 73 from 57 balls from opener Sajid Patel, who profited from two missed catches to hit six fours and five sixes. Adam Parker provided the backbone with a responsible 74 from 128 balls including seven fours and one six while Bilal Asad hit four fours and a six in a breezy 25.
Netherfield's professional Glen Batticciotto, a Queensland state player, collected impressive figures of 5 for 49 on his debut.
The start of the Netherfield reply was delayed for 28 minutes as the home side had failed to provide a new ball. When one was found Bilal Asad used it to good advantage, bowling impressively in tandem with debutant Andy Roberts, a former Millfield public schoolboy who is studying at UCLAN.
Netherfield pro Glen Batticciotto bowls to Preston's Sajid Patel |
Roberts took 3 for 24 in 12 overs, including the prize wicket of Batticciotto, superbly caught at slip first ball by Rehman Shah for a duck. Craig Walmsley (38) and debutant Alex Atkinson (31) had put on 51 for the opening stand but thereafter only skipper Chris Parry (37 not out) provided any sustained resistance.
It was a fitting statistic of the accuracy of Bilal Asad's bowling that he claimed three lbw decisions in addition to three clean bowled.
St Annes continued their fine start to the season by following up their opening day win at Chorley with a crushing defeat of Carnforth.
Stephen Twist hit his second successive half century, making 58 in his side's 197 for 9, taking advantage of being dropped when just 7. Skipper Andy Kellett provided sound support with 38 but Carnforth's opening attack again impressed. Adam Cowperthwaite taking 4 for 60 and pro Gareth Pedder three wickets. Cowperthwaite also made a superb catch to dismiss the former Carnforth star Atiq Uz-Zaman for 15.
But Carnforth, already without key men Robert Parker and Warren Quinn due to work commitments, suffered a further blow when wicket-keeper Ryan Nelson damaged a thumb while fielding. Despite solid resistance from Lewis Bradley the visitors subsided to 86 all out, St Annes's new professional Dinuka Hettiarchchi taking 4 for 26 on debut.
The former Sri Lankan test player had only landed in this country late on Friday night at Heathrow and had got to St Annes at 2.30am on the morning of the game.
St Annes CC |
Lancaster enjoyed a fine six wickets win over Chorley at Lune Road as deputy pro Luke Proctor again came up with a fine bowling performance. The young Lancashire CCC staff player took 5 for 82 as Chorley were restricted to 145 for 9, Michael Critchley top-scoring with 32.
Michael Stevens, who missed the opening weekend due to university exams, then led Lancaster's reply with 47 and with Proctor (34) and Jamie Heywood (35) providing good support Lancaster got home with four balls to spare despite veteran Rex Purnell's best efforts. The Chorley left arm spinner took 3 for 66 off 24.2 overs.
After their disappointing defeat at the hands of Morecambe, Blackpool fought hard to gain a winning draw at Shap Road against Kendal. Alex Smith top-scored with 52 as Blackpool reached 188 for 6, fellow opener John Mounsey making 37 before being run out by Stuart Parkin's direct hit from square leg.
Umpire Dave Whitworth was hit a lusty blow on the shin from Blackpool sub-pro Peter Skuse's straight drive and had to retire injured. Fellow umpire Peter Robinson officiated at both ends and Blackpool coach Mick Moore was pressed into action as square leg umpire.
Kendal looked well placed until opener Ikram Ullah was bowled by Skuse for 56 the first ball after the drinks break and when Terry Hunte was caught behind off Andy Hogarth for 35 the visiting side spied their chance. Five wickets fell in the last five overs as Kendal failed to convert a good position into a win, hanging on for a draw at 177 for 9 as Skuse claimed 4 for 53 and Hogarth 3 for 41.
Morecambe were frustrated by the Darwen last pair of skipper Andrew Cook and Yakub Bhamji in an exciting finish at Woodhill Lane as the visitors closed five runs short of victory with nine wickets down.
Charles Boucher hit 76 and sub pro Kashif Shafi 44 as Morecambe were bowled out for 184, the impressive young pace bowler Bhamji taking 4 for 46. Opener Cris Clarke hit 67 in Darwen's reply but off-spinner Shafi bowled his side to the verge of victory with a spell of 4 for 75 off 25 overs.
Leyland's professional Ameer Khan hit 33 in his first appearance of the season as his side registered the day.s highest total, 214 for 7 against Fleetwood. Opener Karl Cross made 61 and the promising Henry Thompson recorded his first half-century in Division One with an undefeated 51. Fleetwood's sub pro Wayne Madsen took 3 for 72.
Tom Wilson held Fleetwood's reply together with a fine 60 off 92 balls and the home side closed at 161 for 7 as Leyland's left-arm opening bowler Luis Reece took 3 for 43.
FIRST DIVISION SCORES:
FLEETWOOD v LEYLAND
Leyland (9pts) winning draw; Fleetwood (5pts)
Leyland 214 for 7 (K Cross 61, H Thompson 51 not out), Fleetwood 161 for 7 (T Wilson 60)
KENDAL v BLACKPOOL
Blackpool (10pts) winning draw; Kendal (4pts)
Blackpool 188 for 6 (A Smith 52), Kendal 177 for 9 (I Ullah 56, P Skuse 4 for 53)
LANCASTER v CHORLEY
Lancaster (12pts) defeated Chorley (1pt) by 6 wickets
Chorley 145 for 9 (L Proctor 5 for 82), Lancaster 146 for 4 (M Stevens 47)
MORECAMBE v DARWEN
Morecambe (10pts) winning draw; Darwen (7pts)
Morecambe 184 (C Boucher 76, K Shafi 44, Y Bhamji 4 for 46), Darwen 180 for 9 (C Clarke 67, K Shafi 4 for 75)
PRESTON v NETHERFIELD
Preston (15pts) defeated Netherfield (2pts) by 71 runs
Preston 205 for 7 (A Parker 74, Sajid Patel 73, G Batticcotto 5 for 49), Netherfield 134 (Bilal Asad 7 for 36)
ST ANNES v CARNFORTH
St Annes (15pts) defeated Carnforth( 3pts) by 111 runs
St Annes 197 for 9 ( S Twist 58, A Cowperthwaite 4 for 60), Carnforth 86 (D Hettiarchchi 4 for 26)
Taylor's century in vain for St Annes
Adam Taylor hit a century for St Annes |
Review of Furness Building Society Northern Premier League (incorporating 3D Sports) second division games, 25 April 2009 (2nd XI)
Opener Adam Taylor hit an undefeated 103 for St Annes at Lodge Quarry but the visitors had to settle for a winning draw against Carnforth. Taylor, the regular 1st XI opener last season, shared an opening stand of 94 with Gareth Costin (48) for the reigning champions.
But opener Wayne Tomlinson remained undefeated with an obdurate 70 as Carnforth finished just six runs short despite Greg Whitehead taking 4 for 63 off 12 overs.
James Rounding was another to press his claims for a first team recall, taking 4 for 31 as Leyland defeated Fleetwood at Fox Lane to claim the maximum 15 points, despite John Whalley's 51.The visitors finished 50 runs short after Stuart Parker (38) and Steve Cartwright (37) provided the backbone to Leyland's 192 for 6.
Nathan Jackson hit 50 for Darwen and helped his side force a draw at home to Morecambe. Darwen closed on 132 for 9, as Morecambe's left arm spinner Nick Milner was again among the wickets taking 5 for 18. The visitors had posted 165 for 9 with Ian Izzatt opening the innings with 66 before becoming one of Dave Bonner's four victims.
Andrew Starkie claimed 4 for 25 as Preston recorded a fine win at Netherfield, the home side bowled out for 106 chasing Preston's 155 for 8 in which wicket-keeper Ralph Cairns made an undefeated 58.
Last season's runners-up Chorley suffered a six wickets home defeat as Luke Phillips steered Lancaster past the target of 178 with an undefeated 91 while Ian Parkinson made 50. Ian Oakes had opened with 60 to provide the backbone of Chorley's total.
Paul Dodds' 74 helped Kendal set a challenging 193 target for Blackpool at Stanley Park despite home skipper Steven Mercer taking 6 for 26 from 10 overs. Blackpool were dismissed for 125 in reply.
DIVISION TWO SCORES:
Blackpool v Kendal
Kendal (15pts) defeated Blackpool (3pts) by 68 runs
Kendal 193 for 9 (P Dodds 74, S Mercer 6 for 26), Blackpool 125
Carnforth v St Annes
St Annes (9pts) winning draw; Carnforth (4pts)
St Annes 216 for 4 (A Taylor 103no, G Costin 48), Carnforth 210 for 7 (W Tomlinson 70, G Whitehead 4 for 63)
Chorley v Lancaster
Lancaster (12pts) defeated Chorley (2pts) by 6 wickets
Chorley 178 (I Oakes 60, T Burrow 4 for 50), Lancaster 180 for 4 (L Phillips 91no, I Parkinson 50)
Darwen v Morecambe
Morecambe (9pts) winning draw; Darwen (4pts)
Morecambe 165 for 9 (I Izzatt 66, D Bonner 4 for 26), Darwen 132 for 9 (N Jackson 50, N Milner 5 for 18)
Leyland v Fleetwood
Leyland (15pts) defeated Fleetwood (2pts) by 50 runs
Leyland 192 for 6, Fleetwood 142 (J Whalley 51, J Rounding 4 for 31)
Netherfield v Preston
Preston (15pts) defeated Netherfield (2pts) by 49 runs
Preston 155 for 8 (R Cairns 58no), Netherfield 106 (A Starkie 4 for 25)
Michael Latham's 1st Featured Match of the day
Preston v Netherfield
Glen Batticciotto bowls to Adam Parker |
Preston caused the big upset of the season so far when they defeated the defending champions Netherfield at West Cliff by 71 runs. The Preston professional and captain Bilal Asad was his side's hero, taking 7 for 36 as Netherfield were bowled out for 134 in reply to the home side's 205 for 7.
Bilal Asad bowled with accuracy and pace, clean bowling three victims and having another three adjudged leg before wicket.
But the match finished in the gloaming at 8-16pm after an unusual delay to the start of the Netherfield innings. Preston had failed to provide a new ball to start the innings and the play was held up for 28 minutes before an appropriate ball was acquired.
Earlier in the day Preston opener Sajid Patel rode his luck to hit 73 off 57 balls including six fours and five sixes.
Patel, dropped twice, gave the innings an early impetus after a lunch-time shower had reduced the game to one of 46 overs-per-side.
Patel was missed by Scott Clement in a sharp caught-and-bowled chance and was also dropped in the deep off spinner Chris Miller.
But after surviving a testing opening spell by Clement and Glen Batticciotto, Patel showed his range of attacking shots and demonstrated his good eye with a typically audacious innings.
The left-handed opener looked set for a century until he was superbly caught by Simon Little off Nixon to leave Preston 95 for 2 in the 21st over.
Chris Miller celebrates a brilliant catch to dismiss Bilal Asad |
The Netherfield pro Batticciotto, on debut, bowled tightly and got several deliveries to lift off a placid pitch and suggested he will prove a good signing for the club to replace Callum Ferguson.
After Patel's departure, the left-handed Adam Parker provided the backbone to the Preston innings with 74 off 128 balls, an innings that included seven fours and one six.
Bilal Asad looked in prime form, hitting four fours and one six in his innings of 25 before holing out off Stuart Nixon to a brilliant Miller catch at mid on.
Batticciotto was Netherfield's most successful bowler, taking 5 for 49 off 15 overs, including two wickets in as many balls late in the innings with Nixon following his man of the match award in the Cumbrian Cup final with a spell of 2 for 45. Cumberland county spinner Miller bowled well without luck and new wicket-keeper Shane Dixon looked a good acquisition.
Preston new boy Andy Roberts bowls to Chris Parry |
Netherfield CC |
After the extended tea Netherfield set off on their victory quest with a solid opening stand between the experienced Craig Walmsley and 17-year-old Alex Atkinson on debut.
Atkinson impressed as a solid batsman with a good range of shots and the pair put on 51 before Andy Roberts had Walmsley caught behind by Charlie Williams.
Roberts, a former Millfield public schoolboy now studying in the city at UCLAN, was making his Preston First XI debut, and impressed as a sharp medium-paced bowler after making 17 with the bat. Batticciotto, who bats at no4 for Queensland in List A cricket, received an early taste of the standard of Northern League bowling. His first ball from Roberts lifted and he was superbly caught at slip by Rehman Shah.
Netherfield captain Chris Parry averted the hat-trick and soon settled into his groove, rarely looking troubled.
But after Atkinson became Asad's first victim when he was caught at slip by David Fisher, Parry found precious little support from his team-mates.Without experienced campaigners Ben Haddrick, injured playing football during the week, and Marc Hadwin, away on business, Netherfield lacked solidity in the middle order and Asad took full advantage.
Though one over was lost to a delay due to the setting sun, Preston wrapped up victory in the 41st over when Nixon was bowled by Asad, leaving Parry becalmed on an unbeaten 37 off 84 balls.
Asad took 7 for 36 from 16.3 overs, while Roberts supported his captain with an impressive spell of 3 for 24 off 12 overs.
Preston collected maximum 15 points while Netherfield took just two.
Preston CC |
Michael Latham's 2nd Featured Match of the day
Kendal v Blackpool
Winning draw for Blackpool
Umpire Dave Whitworth is carried off after suffering a direct hit on the shin |
Blackpool CC coach Mike Moore has again kindly provided a report of his side's last game, a thrilling draw against Kendal at Shap Road.
The versatile Mr Moore had an eventful afternoon, filling in as square leg umpire for most of the game after Dave Whitworth was unluckily struck on the shin by a direct hit from Blackpool sub-pro Peter Skuse.
The photos are the work of Kendal's answer to David Bailey, Mr David Sykes.
On a day when the weather forecasters were predicting four points apiece, Blackpool travelled to Cumbria with the object of putting the previous week`s nightmare against Morecambe behind them and they did just that.
Put into bat by Kendal skipper Stuart Parkin, Blackpool mustered 188 for 6 thanks initially to an impressive opening partnership of 80 between John Mounsey (37) and teenager Alex Smith(52).
Both batsmen looked confident against the opening attack of Parkin and new recruit Jack White, with some sharp running between the wickets, before the classy- looking Mounsey was adjudged to be run out with a direct hit from mid wicket by Parkin.
This brought stand-in pro Aussie Peter Skuse to the crease, who upped the tempo with a well struck 25, but when he and young Smith departed in quick succession, the visitors crumbled to 126 for 5.
This led to the perfect yet all-too-often seen scenario for Captain Fantastic to use all of his competitive skills to rebuild the Seasiders` innings and ensure that they batted the full 50 overs.
First of all Paul Danson built a stand of 39 with the ebullient Craig Outram who used the opportunity to try out his new bat with great effect. Outram smashed three huge sixes and one four in his quick-fire 27. Then a further 23 runs were added with the improving all-rounder Andy Hogarth took Blackpool to a respectable total with Danson 17 not out and Hogarth 14 not out.
Danno`s Dynamos went into the tea interval the stronger finishers from the first half, having posed this challenging total.
But the Cumbrian lads were in no way phased by the challenge and opener Ikram Ullah(56) came out as if he had a train to catch, striking 13 handsome runs off paceman Richard Gleeson`s first over.
The opening stand of 42 put Kendal in a strong position and their situation was to improve when the free-scoring Terry Hunte joined him at the crease. However, drinks worked its magic for the fielding side and first ball after the break Skuse clean-bowled Ullah with the score at 106 for 2.
Hunte followed soon afterwards, caught behind by the reliable James Smith off Hogarth for 35 and from thereon Blackpool under the masterful eye of skipper Danno gradually hauled their way back into this fascinating contest.
Ikram Ullah drives |
A magnificent spell of bowling by Andy Hogarth (20-4-41-3), ably supported by the off spin of Skuse (4 for 53 in 15) applied the necessary brakes and left Blackpool with the lion`s share of the points from a thrilling winning draw. It was a fiercely-fought battle between two evenly matched sides.
Ashit Jariwala again bowled economically, his eight overs costing only 29 runs and two fine run outs from Mounsey & Hogarth all contributed to a much more successful day for Danno`s boys.
Pressed into umpiring for two-thirds of the game, it was a privilege to be out in the middle with Captain Fantastic and his warriors. However, I would prefer a more sedate position for observing next Saturday`s home clash with Leyland!
Man of many parts- coach, scribe and stand-in umpire |
Kendal CC |
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