By Michael Latham
Barrow pro Pasan Wanasinghe bowls Ikram Ullah second ball |
St Annes extended their lead at the top of the Furness Building Society Northern Premier League (in association with 3D Sports) to 12 points but were frustrated by a battling Leyland performance at Vernon Road.
With second placed Preston inactive Andy Kellett's side hoped to hammer home their advantage but had to settle for nine points from a winning draw.
It is the turn of St Annes to have a day off on Bank Holiday Monday when Preston entertain Leyland at West Cliff where they could go top if they earn 15 points from a win batting first and go level at the top for earning 12points from a win batting second.
Next Saturday St Annes entertain Fleetwood before completing their fixtures at Darwen on Saturday week. Preston's other two games are also at home, against Barrow and Morecambe respectively.
Stephen Twist hit 88 off 100 balls to go past 500 runs for the season and wicket-keeper Duncan Whalley made 67 off 78 balls, the pair adding 121 for the fourth wicket, as St Annes rattled up 240 for 5 after being invited to bat by Leyland captain David Makinson.
Kellett declared with two overs remaining but despite another big haul from pro Dinuka Hettiarachchi Leyland finished in the safety zone on 161 for 7. The Sri Lankan spin ace took six for 61 off 23 overs to take his seasonal tally to 77 wickets but teenagers Luis Reece (37 off 67 balls) and Henry Thompson (33 off 75 balls) led the resistance.
Morecambe's title hopes all but disappeared when they lost to in-form Barrow at Ernest Pass in a tense, low-scoring game. After being invited to bat Morecambe slumped to 8 for 3 and 38 for 7 as Barrow pro Pasan Wanasinghe exploited a soft pitch expertly.
Wanasinghe bowled Ikram Ullah, a midweek century maker for Cumberland, with his second ball and went on to collect six for 29 off 20 overs. He claimed a hat-trick in his eighth over when he dismissed Morecambe pro Mandla Mashimbyi leg before for 28 and followed up by bowling Lewis Edge and having skipper Tommy Clough caught behind.
Wanasinghe hat-trick part one - Mashimbyi LBW |
Wanasinghe hat-trick part two - Edge bowled |
Wanasinghe hat-trick part three - Clough caught D'Leny
|
Graeme Cassidy (31) and Phil Dennison (16) led the resistance with a battling stand of 47 for the eighth wicket in 20 overs and the experienced Graham Lee (12) saw Morecambe into three figures before being superbly caught by Wanasinghe off a high full toss. Barrow skipper Daryl Wearing weighed in with three for 47.
After two frustrating delays for rain Barrow moved up to sixth after edging past their target for the loss of six wickets with Jon Miles (25), Wanasinghe (28) and Robin Adams (27 not out) defying the rampant Mashimbyi. The popular South African, who has lit up the league this season and plays cricket with a smile on his face, went past the 50-wicket mark taking five for 37. Teenaged Cumberland batsman Miles, off shortly for a season playing club cricket in Australia, celebrated his A Level results by passing the 500 runs-mark for the campaign.
Chorley leapfrogged Morecambe into third but have only two games left. They were indebted to a superb display of spin bowling from veteran Rex Purnell and a classy batting effort from Australian pro Chris Hartley for their seven wickets win at Lodge Quarry.
Purnell wheeled away unchanged to take six for 35 off 25 overs to help restrict the home side to 121 for 9 with Billy Smith taking three for 59. Opener Ryan Nelson went through the 500-runs barrier for the season as he battled his way to 53.
Hartley then hit an undefeated 85 off only 65 balls to steer Chorley home though Carnforth left-arm spinner Warren Quinn had the consolation of reaching 50 wickets for the season when he had Lancashire U19s opener Josh Tolley caught behind. Quinn followed up with the wicket of Will Moulton and now has 51 wickets in the race for the prestigious Castle Award for top amateur bowler, two ahead of Blackpool's Richard Gleeson (49).
There was a thrilling finish at Lune Road where Blackpool just failed to score 12 off the last over and Lancaster finished one wicket short of victory. With both sides unable to recruit substitute professionals Lancaster were indebted to their in-form opener Michael Stevens, who made 63 in their 152 for 9 off 49 overs. Stevens added 79 for the second wicket with David Heywood. Andrew Furniss continued to confirm the good impression he has made since moving from the Palace Shield this season, taking five for 50.
Blackpool lost three overs to rain and finished tantalisingly short despite good contributions from Furniss (34), Andy Hogarth (29) and skipper Paul Danson (23) with Steven Mercer run out off the last ball. Lancaster spinner BV Rhagavendra took four for 37 off 17 overs.
Kendal won a thrilling, rain reduced game at Birch Hall with two balls to spare with their last pair of Stuart Nelson and Stu Parkin at the crease. In a game reduced to 29 overs per side Darwen had been restricted to 82 for 9 as Kendal pro and skipper Ross McMillan took five for 21, including the vital wicket of pro David Wiese leg before for top score of 26.
Despite a six wicket haul from Wiese, playing his final home game for the club before returning to South Africa on Tuesday, and a spell of three for 13 from the promising Kamran Anwar, Kendal scrambled home in a thrilling finish with Donovan Du Plessis making an invaluable 29.
Reigning champions Netherfield saw their last realistic chance of defending their title disappear when their home game with Fleetwood was abandoned without any play at Parkside Road.
FIRST DIVISION SCORES:
BARROW v MORECAMBE
Barrow (12pts) defeated Morecambe (1pt) by 4 wickets
Morecambe 104 (P Wanasinghe 6 for 29 including hat-trick), Barrow 105 for 6 (M Mashimbyi 5 for 37)
CARNFORTH v CHORLEY
Chorley (12pts) defeated Carnforth (0pts) by 7 wickets
Carnforth 121 for 9 (R Nelson 53, R Purnell 6 for 35), Chorley 125 for 3 (C Hartley 85no)
DARWEN v KENDAL
Kendal (12pts) defeated Darwen (3pts) by one wicket
Darwen 82 for 9 (R McMillan 5 for 21), Kendal 84 for 9 (D Wiese 6 for 37)
LANCASTER v BLACKPOOL
Lancaster (8pts) winning draw; Blackpool 5pts
Lancaster 152 for 9 (M Stevens 63, A Furniss 5 for 50), Blackpool 150 for 9 (BV Rhagavendra 4 for 37)
St ANNES v LEYLAND
St Annes (9pts) winning draw; Leyland (4pts)
St Annes 240 for 5dec (S Twist 88, D Whalley 67), Leyland 161 for 7 (D Hettiarachchi 6 for 61)
NETHERFIELD v FLEETWOOD
No play; Match abandoned (4pts each)
Preston 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 |
22 |
3 |
8 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
26 |
196 |
| Preston |
21 |
6 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
29* |
184 |
| Chorley |
22 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
2 |
33 |
171 |
| Morecambe |
21 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
33 |
166 |
| Netherfield |
21 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
41 |
157 |
| Barrow |
21 |
2 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
21 |
156 |
| Blackpool |
21 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
42 |
144 |
| Kendal |
21 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
3 |
36 |
136 |
| Fleetwood |
22 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
2 |
34 |
118 |
| Leyland |
21 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
3 |
40 |
118 |
| Darwen |
21 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
7 |
4 |
40* |
116 |
| Carnforth |
21 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
9 |
4 |
37 |
109 |
| Lancaster |
21 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
9 |
3 |
34 |
97 |
* 2 points deducted for slow over rate
Divison Two
Lancaster on course for division two title
Division Two leaders Lancaster earned an emphatic eight wickets win at Stanley Park over the nearest challengers Blackpool to strengthen their grip on the title chase.
Tim Lambert took five for 42 and Scott Sparks three for 26 as Blackpool were bowled out for 84 in 32.3 overs, opener Nicky Wall providing most resistance with 24. Danny Welbourne saw the visitors safely home, hitting ten boundaries in an undefeated 65 as Lancaster knocked off the target in 19.2 overs for the loss of two wickets. Lancaster now lead Blackpool by 31 points with three games remaining.
Defending champions St Annes did Lancaster a big favour, defeating their other major challengers Leyland by 23 runs at Fox Lane. The consistent opener Adam Taylor hit a superb 66 to steer St Annes to 141 with Stephen Cartwright taking four wickets for 24 and Steven Pallett three for 29. Leyland were then dismissed for 118 in reply despite a battling 39 from Pallett.
Opener Wayne Tomlinson helped inspire Carnforth to a shock two wickets win at Chorley, hitting 58 to anchor his side's reply to the home side's 176 for 6. Five other batsmen reached double figures for the visitors with Garry Baxendale and Gareth Denwood piloting their side home despite Ross Demming taking four cheap wickets. Rowan Mitcham and David Catterall hit half centuries for Chorley.
Morecambe chairman Nick Milner enjoyed a day to remember as his side defeated Barrow at Woodhill Lane. Milner hit an undefeated 60 and Sean Graves, batting at number ten, 45 as the home side posted 212 for 9. Milner then took seven for 11 off seven overs as Barrow collapsed to 146 all out after opener Ashley Mowat had given them a fine start with an innings of 58.
Fleetwood dismissed Netherfield for just 46 on their way to a six wickets win at Broadwater, Alex Laird taking five for 13 and Tom Clarke four for 15.
The game At Shap Road between Kendal and Darwen was abandoned.
SECOND DIVISION SCORES:
BLACKPOOL v LANCASTER
Lancaster (12pts) defeated Blackpool (0pts) by 8 wickets
Blackpool 84 (T Lambert 5 for 42), Lancaster 86 for 2 (D Welbourne 65no)
CHORLEY v CARNFORTH
Carnforth (12pts) defeated Chorley (4pts) by 2 wickets
Chorley 176 for 6 (D Catterall 63, R Mitcham 50), Carnforth 180 for 8 (W Tomlinson 58, R Demming 4 for 15)
FLEETWOOD v NETHERFIELD
Fleetwood (12pts) defeated Netherfield (0pts) by 6 wickets
Netherfield 46 (A Laird 5 for 13, T Clarke 4 for 15), Fleetwood 49 for 4
KENDAL v DARWEN
No play; Match abandoned (4pts each)
LEYLAND v ST ANNES
St Annes (15pts) defeated Leyland (3pts) by 23 runs
St Annes 141 (A Taylor 66, S Cartwright 4 for 24), Leyland 118
MORECAMBE v BARROW
Morecambe (15pts) defeated Barrow (4pts) by 66 runs
Morecambe 212 for 9 (N Milner 60no, S Graves 45), Barrow 146 (A Mowat 58, N Milner 7 for 11)
Preston 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 |
21 |
3 |
11 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
24 |
217 |
| Blackpool |
21 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
16 |
186 |
| Leyland |
21 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
2 |
28 |
179 |
| St Annes |
22 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
24 |
174 |
| Chorley |
22 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
3 |
27 |
173 |
| Darwen |
21 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
24 |
173 |
| Morecambe |
21 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
35 |
152 |
| Netherfield |
21 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
8 |
2 |
37 |
148 |
| Fleetwood |
22 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
11 |
2 |
26 |
126 |
| Carnforth |
21 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
9 |
3 |
27 |
109 |
| Preston |
21 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
10 |
2 |
20 |
107 |
| Kendal |
21 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
13 |
2 |
21 |
99 |
| Barrow |
21 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
13 |
3 |
40 |
81 |
