Holders Preston march on
St Annes' Atiq Uz-Zaman blasted a quick 49 against Blackpool |
St Annes kept their hopes alive of qualifying for the Latham Baxendale Twenty20 Cup Finals Day with a thrilling seven runs win over Blackpool at Vernon Road.
Atiq Uz-Zaman smashed 49 off 31 balls and shared in an opening stand of 74 in nine overs with Charles Boucher (31) to provide the platform for St Annes' testing 164 for 5. David Bartholomew hit two huge sixes late in the innings as Alex Smith and Steven Mercer each took two wickets for Blackpool.
John Mounsey shared in an opening stand of 79 for Blackpool with Craig Outram |
John Mounsey (36) and Craig Outram (37) gave Blackpool a fine start with an opening stand of 79 in nine overs but the former was former was bowled by Stephen Twist's slower ball and the latter victim of a fantastic catch in the outfield by Atiq Uz-Zaman. Pro Nimesh Perera was trapped leg before by fellow countryman Dinuka Hettiarachchi for 8 who returned three for 25.
Andy Furniss, Alex Smith and skipper Paul Danson kept Blackpool's hopes alive but the task of scoring 17 off Hettiarachchi's last over proved just too much as the visitors closed on 157 for 6. The match was a wonderful advert for the Northern League and for the competition.
St Annes Twenty20 XI 2010 |
Twenty20 cup holders Preston continued their winning run with a seven wicket success at Birch Hall. Javaid Hussain took three wickets as Darwen were restricted to 91 for 9 and with Sajid Patel scoring 40 not out Preston cantered to victory with over five overs in hand.
Leyland won a thriller at Windsor Park to inflict Chorley's third successive defeat. Andrew Makinson hit 37 off 29 balls with three sixes and pro Brett Pelser blasted 45 off 21 balls with two fours and four sixes in Leyland's 183 for 5. Peter Cummings (31) and Chris Parkinson (26) were also in the runs. Matt Parry took three for 48.
Chorley pro JJ Smuts anchored the innings and batted throughout for an unbeaten 87 off 59 balls with ten fours and three sixes. Will Moulton (23 off 11 balls) provided most support as Chorley closed ten runs adrift on 173 for 5.
Carnforth pro Gareth Pedder hit a valiant 80 against his old club Morecambe but still finished on the losing side at Lodge Quarry. Morecambe were indebted to wicketkeeper Lewis Edge, promoted to opener for their 186 for 5. Edge hit 70 and received good support from Ikram Ullah (44), Farhaan Behardien (26) and Phil Thornton (29 not out). Behardien is the Burnley professional and was deputising for Mandla Mashimbyi who sadly has returned to South Africa after the sudden death of his mother.
Despite Pedder's heroics Carnforth finished 44 runs short on 142 for 8, Reg Cupit taking four for 35 including the vital wicket of Pedder, trapped leg before.
Netherfield made it two wins from two as they defeated Barrow by 77 runs at Parkside Road. Pro Nick Kruger hit 65 off 38 balls including five fours and four sixes with John Huck making 52 off 28 balls including three fours and four sixes. Netherfield reached 193 for 4 and then dismissed Barrow for 116 despite a defiant 36 from Chris D'Leny.
Blackpool Twenty20 XI 2010 |
Scorecard:
Carnforth v Morecambe
Morecambe won by 44 runs
Morecambe 186 for 3 (L Edge 70, I Ullah 44), Carnforth 142 for 8 (G Pedder 80)
Chorley v Leyland
Leyland won by 10 runs
Leyland 183 for 5 (B Pelser 45, M Parry 3 for 48), Chorley 173 for 5 (JJ Smuts 87no)
Darwen v Preston
Preston won by 7 wickets
Darwen 91 for 9, Preston 93 for 3 (S Patel 40no)
Netherfield v Barrow
Netherfield won by 77 runs
Netherfield 193 for 4 (N Kruger 65, J Huck 52), Barrow 116
St Annes v Blackpool
St Annes won by 7 runs
St Annes 164 for 5 (Atiq Uz-Zaman 49), Blackpool 157 for 6 (D Hettiarachchi 3 for 25)
