By Michael Latham
Morecambe's new pro Mandla Mashimbyi bowls to Karl Cross |
St Annes opened up a 13-points lead at the top of the Furness Building Society Northern Premier League (in association with 3D Sports) by virtue of an exciting 42 runs victory over Preston at West Cliff.
Former Pakistan Test player Atiq Uz-Zaman, the league's leading amateur batsman in 2008, hit an outstanding unbeaten 83 to steer his side to 123 for 8 in their 42 overs.
Atiq, who batted throughout the innings, facing 99 balls and hitting seven fours, profited from being dropped when 42. His former Carnforth team-mate Darren Nelson had bowled superbly for Preston, who began the day in second place. Nelson had a spell of four wickets for no runs, accounting for Gareth Evans, Duncan Whalley, Stephen Twist and pro Dinuka Hettiarachchi.
Preston looked well set for victory until slow left-armer Hettiarachchi changed ends. He took four wickets for five runs to finish with 4 for 15 off 13.4 overs while veteran David Bartholomew weighed with a spell of four for 4 at the other end. With Duncan Whalley making three stumpings, Preston subsided to 81 all out.
Josh Tolley underlined his class as an opening batsman and wicket-keeper with a superb all-round display in Chorley's resounding 72 runs victory over Barrow at Ernest Pass which moved Jack Catterall's side up to second place.
With neither side fielding professionals, the Sheffield-based University student hit 58 and Ian Oakes weighed with an unbeaten 50 as Chorley posted 128 for 4 in their 33 overs. Ian Allington, a rarely used bowler these days, picked up two wickets for the home side.
Tolley then claimed six catches behind the stumps as Barrow were bowled out for 56. Left arm opening bowler Billy Smith, brother of Lancashire all rounder Tom, took 5 for 31 with Kieran McCullagh and Nigel Eastham claiming two wickets apiece.
But there was a concerning incident when Barrow batsman Robin Adams misjudged a Smith bouncer and was hit in the eye. Adams retired hurt and was taken to hospital for treatment where early indications were that happily he should make a swift recovery.
Fleetwoods home ground Broadwater |
Ben Simm completed a momentous personal week on a happy note by steering Kendal to an eight wickets win at Fleetwood in another game played without professionals.
Simm, the League's leading amateur bowler last season, became a father for the first time during the week. He did not get a bowl as Fleetwood made 119 for 8 in a match reduced to 31 overs per side at Broadwater. Kevin Howarth took four wickets and deputy captain Stuart Parkin three as a fighting sixth-wicket stand of 59 between top scorers Adam Sharrocks (37) and Wayne Clarke (27) helped the home side set a competitive target.
Promoted to opening batsman Simm then struck an undefeated 42 off 69 balls including two sixes and with help from Ikram Ullah (23) and Terry Hunte (36) Kendal reached their target with 3.3 overs in hand.
Ben Simm steered Kendal to victory at Broadwater |
Carnforth had by far the better of a winning draw against reigning champions Netherfield at Parkside Road. Skipper Darren Moore hit an unbeaten 62 off 48 balls against his former club including four sixes and opener Ryan Nelson hit three sixes in his innings of 48 as the visitors posted an imposing 151 for 5 in their 28 overs. Back from a working spell in India Netherfield leg-spinner Marc Hadwin was the most successful home bowler with 3 for 31.
Netherfield were never in the hunt as Carnforth's left arm spinner Warren Quinn continued his impressive start to the season. Quinn collected 4 for 30 off 14 overs and with professional Gareth Pedder picking up the prized wicket of Netherfield captain Chris Parry for a duck, the home side hung on to finish 60 for 7.
Two games were abandoned due to the weather.
Blackpool had reached 104 for 3 off 33 overs against Darwen at Birch Hall when the rains came and there was no resumption. Former Fylde CC captain Andy Furniss was 32 not out while opener Stuart Hampson took 3 for 44 for Darwen, including the wicket of Blackpool's sub-professional Mudassar Ibrahim.
Blackpool gave first-team debuts to 20-year-old former Bolton Wanderers FC player Robert Sissons and 16-year-old Mike Tidmas while Darwen, still awaiting the arrival of South African David Wiese played without a professional.
Leyland professional Ameer Khan was just getting into his stride when rain intervened at Fox Lane, hitting an unbeaten 39 as his side reached 87 for 3 from 29 overs against Morecambe The visitors' South African professional Mandla Mashimbyi marked his debut with his first Northern League wickets, bowling Karl Cross and having Ian Farrington caught at slip by Mark Lomas. He also caught Luis Reece off the bowling of Graham Lee before the weather had the final say.
Morecambe CC |
Leyland pro Ameer Khan hits a six just before RSP |
FIRST DIVISION SCORES:
BARROW v CHORLEY
Chorley (15pts) defeated Barrow (0pts) by 72 runs
Chorley 128 for 4 (J Tolley 58, I Oakes 50no), Barrow 56 (B Smith 5 for 31)
DARWEN v BLACKPOOL
Match abandoned (4pts each)
Blackpool 104 for 3
FLEETWOOD v KENDAL
Kendal (12pts) defeated Fleetwood (0pts) by 8 wickets
Fleetwood 119 for 8 (K Howarth 4 for 48), Kendal 123 for 2 (B Simm 42no)
LEYLAND v MORECAMBE
Match abandoned (4pts each)
Leyland 87 for 3
NETHERFIELD v CARNFORTH
Carnforth (7pts) winning draw; Netherfield (2pts)
Carnforth 151 for 5 (D Moore 62no, R Nelson 48), Netherfield 60 for 7 (W Quinn 4 for 30)
PRESTON v ST ANNES
St Annes (15pts) defeated Preston (2pts) by 42 runs
St Annes 123 for 8 (Atiq Uz-Zaman 83 no, D Nelson 4 for 33), Preston 81 (D Hettiarachchi 4 for 15, D Bartholomew 4 for 14)
FURNESS BUILDING SOCIETY
( INCORPORATING 3D SPORTS )
NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Division One
| Club |
P |
W15 |
W12 |
D4 |
D1 |
L |
NR4 |
BP |
Pts |
| St Annes |
5 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
54 |
| Chorley |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
41 |
| Preston |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
38 |
| Leyland |
4 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
36 |
| Kendal |
5 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
35 |
| Morecambe |
5 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
33 |
| Darwen |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
30 |
| Fleetwood |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
26 |
| Carnforth |
5 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
13 |
25 |
| Blackpool |
5 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
12 |
25 |
| Lancaster |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
22 |
| Netherfield |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
17 |
| Barrow |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
12 |
Stuart Nixon took seven wickets for Netherfield at Carnforth |
Kendal take over at the top
Kendal went to the top of the Second Division of the Furness Building Society Northern Premier League (incorporating 3D Sports) after edging to a two wickets win over Fleetwood at Shap Road.
Neil Gregson took four wickets for the visitors but despite his efforts Kendal just got home to overtake overnight leaders Lancaster, who had no game.
With second placed Morecambe rained off, last season's runners-up Chorley made ground on the leading pack, defeating Barrow by 14 runs at Windsor Park as veteran Ross Demming took 5 for 39 to bowl out the visitors for 103.
Defending champions St Annes were also rained off at Vernon Road against Preston.
Stuart Nixon returned outstanding figures of 7 for 41 to spearhead Netherfield's nerve-wracking win at Lodge Quarry over Carnforth in another low scoring game.
And 15-years-old Nathan Bird took four for 10 as Darwen collapsed from 56 for 0 to close 82 for 7, nine runs short of Blackpool's 91 for 4 at Stanley Park in another overs-reduced game.
SECOND DIVISION SCORES
BLACKPOOL v DARWEN
Blackpool (6pts) winning draw; Darwen (1pt)
Blackpool 91 for 4 (D Newton 46), Darwen 82 for 7 (N Bird 4 for 10)
CARNFORTH v NETHERFIELD
Netherfield (12pts) defeated Carnforth (2pts) by 2 wickets
Carnforth 85 for 7 (S Nixon 7 for 41), Netherfield 91 for 8
CHORLEY v BARROW
Chorley (15pts) defeated Barrow (3pts) by 14 runs
Chorley 117 for 9 (G Collins 5 for 33), Barrow 103 (R Demming 5 for 39)
KENDAL v FLEETWOOD
Kendal (12pts) defeated Fleetwood (2pts) by 2 wickets
Fleetwood 86, Kendal 87 for 8 (N Gregson 4 for 30)
MORECAMBE v LEYLAND
Match abandoned (4pts each)
Morecambe 11 for 0
ST ANNES v PRESTON
Match abandoned (4pts each)
Preston 8 for 1
FURNESS BUILDING SOCIETY
( INCORPORATING 3D SPORTS )
NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Division Two
| Club |
P |
W15 |
W12 |
D4 |
D1 |
L |
NR4 |
BP |
Pts |
| Kendal |
5 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
47 |
| Morecambe |
5 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
41 |
| Lancaster |
4 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
40 |
| Chorley |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
39 |
| Blackpool |
5 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
37 |
| St Annes |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
28 |
| Carnforth |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
25 |
| Darwen |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
24 |
| Preston |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
23 |
| Leyland |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
22 |
| Barrow |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
21 |
| Netherfield |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
18 |
| Fleetwood |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
18 |
