D2 title challengers Leyland and Chorley frustrated by the weather
Henry Thompson made a superb hundred but was frustrated by the weather |
Darwen wicketkeeper/batsman Alex Davies has been called into the Lancashire side for their CB40 game against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay (1pm) on Sunday. The 17-year-old who is a member of the Lancashire Academy squad and the England U17s elite squad is a pupil at QEGS, Blackburn.
It will be a proud moment for his family with father Christian a Darwen stalwart and for his club who celebrate their centenary in 2011 when the highly regarded Davies makes his Lancashire debut with regular 'keeper Gareth Cross rested due to a slight injury.
The Lancashire side will be captained by Blackpool's Steven Croft with Chorley's Tom Smith also in the XI after taking four wickets in Lancashire's County Championship victory over Worcestershire at Stanley Park.
While Lancashire kept their Championship hopes alive by wrapping up their game in the morning session, the weather forecasters predicted rain spreading from the south during the afternoon. Sadly they were correct with Round 22 severely affected by rain which affected most games during mid afternoon.
Barrow were the only team to beat the weather in the Furness Building Society Northern Premier Cricket League (incorporating Readers Crickets Balls) as they recorded a four wickets win over Kendal at Ernest Pass.
Former skipper Daryl Wearing, who has been in superb bowling form of late helped demolish the visitors for 77. Wearing captured five wickets for 25 off 15.4 overs in a masterly demonstration of the seam bowler's art including the prize wicket of former Barrow opener Jon Miles, who set a new amateur batting record at the club last season caught by Liam Livingstone for a duck on his return to Ernest Pass. Pro Pieter Malan continued his fine bowling form with a spell of 4/20 while Graham Dawson had Kiwi Test star Jamie How caught behind for 1.
Barrow struggled in replay against the in-form Kendal captain Chris Miller who moved past 50 wickets for the season during a spell of 4/29. Miller now has 53 wickets, just seven short of equalling the Kendal record he set in 2010. Sam Dutton (22), the son of former Barrow and Cumberland star Simon and Dawson (23) made important contributions as the home side reached their target with rain falling at 5pm, Kendal sportingly refusing to leave the field until the game was concluded.
Second placed Leyland were frustrated by the weather as their game at Lodge Quarry was finally abandoned at 6pm after rain set in at tea. Leyland skipper David Makinson had set the scene for an exciting second half after declaring his side's innings closed after 45 overs.
Henry Thompson hit his maiden Northern League century and was unbeaten on 123 when the declaration came at 237/4. Thompson, another member of the Lancashire Academy squad warmed up for a winter in Australia by overcoming an uncertain start to bat with increasing fluency, reaching his first 50 off 84 balls and his second off 30 balls. He hit 15 fours and four sixes and faced 135 balls, adding 180 for the opening stand with Luis Reece.
Henry Thompson returns after making his maiden League century |
Reece, who set off after the game to play for the Unicorns against Somerset at Taunton survived an early run out appeal to hit 79 off 108 balls with 11 fours and two sixes and has now hit 872 league runs at an average of 58.13. He is chasing David Wareing's amateur club batting record of 953 runs. Matt Weller was Carnforth's best bowler and captured 3/73.
Luis Reece is closing in on the Leyland amateur batting record |
Chorley just bowled enough overs to record a winning draw against Preston at Windsor Park where Will Moulton's explosive innings served notice of his big-hitting ability.
Moulton hit a superb unbeaten 92 off 110 balls including nine fours and six huge sixes in his side's 159/5. He was denied what appeared to be a certain hundred when rain stopped play and curtailed the Chorley innings after 39 overs. Andrew Starkie collected 3/60 for Preston with Iain Critchley helping Chorley recover from 61/4 with a fifth wicket stand of 69.
When play resumed Preston struggled despite 30 from pro Saeed Bariwala. Pro Gaurav Dhar and Critchley each captured two wickets and despite another interruption Chorley just claimed a winning draw as Preston finished on 70/6 after 20.2 overs.
Leaders St Annes were inactive and saw their lead at the top of Division One reduced to 18 points with four games to play. St Annes have played 21 games and have 218pts with defending Champions Leyland (21-200) second. Chorley (21-185) are third with Netherfield (22-181) fourth and Morecambe (21-174) fifth.
Sixth-placed Darwen batted fluently at Lune Road before play was ended for the day. Skipper John Cordingley and Danny Fradd posted 96 for the first wicket and pro Zimmy Khan hit 31 in Darwen's 203/8. Ben Simm took 3/64 and now has 52 wickets for the season, just nine short of his own club amateur record set last year.
Leg-spinner Alex Metcalfe had a productive 17-overs spell and captured 4/69. The teenager missed most of last season through injury but is one of several Lancaster RGS pupils who point a bright future ahead for the historic Lancaster club.
Blackpool put themselves in a good position against fourth-placed Netherfield at Parkside Road before rain set in at tea. Steven Mercer bowled with accuracy and control to take 5/52 off 18.5 overs as the home side were dismissed for 157. Acting skipper Ben Haddrick top-scored with 48 and John Huck was unbeaten on 35.
Morecambe's Cumberland County all rounder Chris Williams continued his good batting form with an unbeaten 57 in his side's game against Fleetwood at Woodhill Lane. Wicketkeeper Lewis Edge made 54 and was the dominant partner in a stand of 77 after Morecambe had slumped to 38/4. Fleetwood pro Ryan Smith took 4/45 off 16 overs as Morecambe reached 160/9 after 46 overs before the rains came
Luis Reece is caught behind by Tom Barnfield off Matt Weller for 79 |
FIRST DIVISION SCORES
Barrow v Kendal
Barrow (12pts) defeated Kendal (1pt) by 4 wickets
Kendal 77 (D Wearing 5-25), Barrow 81 - 6 (C Miller 4-29)
Carnforth v Leyland
Match abandoned (4pts each)
Leyland 237 - 4dec (H Thompson 123no, L Reece 79), Carnforth did not bat
Chorley v Preston
Chorley (6pts) winning draw; Preston 2pts
Chorley 159 - 5 (W Moulton 92no), Preston 70 - 6
Lancaster v Darwen
Match abandoned (4pts each)
Darwen 203 - 8 (D Fradd 44, J Cordingley 43, A Metcalfe 4-69), Lancaster did not bat
Morecambe v Fleetwood
Match abandoned (4pts each)
Morecambe 160 - 9 (C Williams 57no, L Edge 54, R Smith 4-54), Fleetwood did not bat
Netherfield v Blackpool
Match abandoned (4pts each)
Netherfield 157 (B Haddrick 48, S Mercer 5-52), Blackpool did not bat
FURNESS BUILDING SOCIETY
( INCORPORATIN READERS CRICKET
BALLS )
NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Division One
| Club |
P |
W15 |
W12 |
D4 |
D1 |
L |
NR4 |
BP |
Pts |
| St Annes |
21 |
5 |
9 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
19 |
218 |
| Leyland |
21 |
3 |
9 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
29 |
200 |
| Chorley |
21 |
7 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
30 |
185 |
| Netherfield |
22 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
23 |
181 |
| Morecambe |
21 |
7 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
2 |
23** |
174 |
| Darwen |
21 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
37 |
165 |
| Blackpool |
21 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
8 |
1 |
37 |
156 |
| Barrow |
21 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
9 |
0 |
50 |
140 |
| Kendal |
21 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
2 |
35 |
137 |
| Lancaster |
21 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
11 |
2 |
28 |
119 |
| Carnforth |
21 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
10 |
2 |
36 |
117 |
| Preston |
22 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
14 |
0 |
46 |
99 |
| Fleetwood |
21 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
13 |
1 |
46 |
96 |
| Lancashire Colts |
11 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
14 |
73 |
** 2 points deducted for slow over rate
Division Two (2nd XI)
In Division Two defending champions Leyland and second placed Chorley were both frustrated by the weather.
Leyland dismissed visitors Carnforth for 78 at Fox Lane, Stephen Cartwright taking 4/14. Leyland were 36/2 in the ninth over of their reply when play was abandoned.
Chorley made 181/5 declared at West Cliff, Ian Oakes top-scorer with 49 with skipper Ian Mawdesley hitting 35, Rowan Mitcham 30 and Matthew Critchley 30 not out. Kieran Ghandi took 3/33. Preston were 25/2 in reply when the game was abandoned.
Leyland (20-233) lead Chorley (20-213) by 20pts with four games remaining. Third-placed Blackpool (19-199) entertain Netherfield at Stanley Park on Sunday.
Neil Gregson took 6/21 off 9.4 overs to bowl in-form Fleetwood to victory over Morecambe at Broadwater. The visitors were dismissed for 84 and Wayne Clarke's side beat the weather to win by eight wickets with Andy Singleton unbeaten on 35.
The games at Darwen and Kendal were abandoned. Darwen were struggling at 30/5, Phil Sparrow taking all five wickets (three bowled and two leg-before) after Stuart Hampson had captured 4/13 to bowl out visitors Lancaster for 90. Kendal reached 109/5 against Barrow at Shap Road before a watery end.
SECOND DIVISION SCORES
Darwen v Lancaster
Match abandoned (4pts each)
Lancaster 90 (S Hampson 4-13), Darwen 30 - 5 (P Sparrow 5-13)
Fleetwood v Morecambe
Fleetwood (12pts) defeated Morecambe (0pts) by 8 wickets
Morecambe 84 (N Gregson 6-21)Fleetwood 85 - 2
Kendal v Barrow
Match abandoned (4pts each)
Kendal 109 - 5, Barrow did not bat
Leyland v Carnforth
Match abandoned (4pts each)
Carnforth 78 (S Cartwright 4-14). Leyland 36 - 2
Preston v Chorley
Match abandoned (4pts each)
Chorley 181 - 5dec (I Oakes 49), Preston 25 - 2
Sunday 21st August
Blackpool v Netherfield
Blackpool (12 pts) defeated Netherfield (0 pts) by 9 wickets
Netherfield 47 (N Bird 4-6), Blackpool 51 - 1
FURNESS BUILDING SOCIETY
( INCORPORATING READERS
CRICKET BALLS )
NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
Division Two
| Club |
P |
W15 |
W12 |
D4 |
D1 |
L |
NR4 |
BP |
Pts |
| Leyland |
20 |
9 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
18 |
233 |
| Chorley |
20 |
7 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
213 |
| Blackpool |
20 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
21 |
211 |
| Darwen |
20 |
6 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
18 |
171 |
| Netherfield |
21 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
2 |
12++ |
158 |
| Fleetwood |
20 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
3 |
22 |
139 |
| Kendal |
20 |
4 |
1 |
2*** |
0 |
9 |
4 |
24 |
121 |
| Barrow |
20 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
8 |
2 |
37 |
116 |
| St Annes |
20 |
0 |
6 |
2*** |
3 |
5 |
4 |
15++ |
115 |
| Preston |
21 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
14 |
2 |
36 |
108 |
| Morecambe |
20 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
11 |
1 |
33 |
98 |
| Carnforth |
21 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
12 |
3 |
39 |
93 |
| Lancaster |
21 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
13 |
2 |
30 |
89 |
++ 15points deducted
*** Tied match 5 points
