Leyland squeeze dramatic last ball victory
Jordan Clarke underpinned Darwen's innings with an unbeaten 54 |
Leyland kept alive their faint hopes of qualifying for Finals Day in the Latham Baxendale T20 Cup with a dramatic last ball, one wicket victory over Darwen on a glorious sun-kissed evening Fox Lane before an enthralled crowd.
The teenaged Leyland last pair of Nathan McDonnell and Tayyab Afsar emerged as the heroes with a last wicket stand of six from the last over, bowled by Darwen pro Mohammad Zaman Khan.
Afsar coolly collected the winning single off the last ball despite Alex Davies's attempt to run him out in the tensest of finishes.
McDonnell was the batting hero with a match-winning unbeaten 37 off 34 balls, sharing a fifth-wicket stand of 54 with Karl Cross (31) that repaired the innings from a disastrous start that saw the home side 40 for 4 chasing 123 to win.
But Darwen's injury depleted side fought superbly in the field and refused to throw in the towel even when Leyland looked odds-on to win the game with two overs to go.
Andrew Cook threw the game back into the melting pot with an inspired over that saw him capture the wickets of Matthew Watkinson and Stephen Cartwright with successive balls, both caught by pro Khan at backward point, and then trapping Steven Pallett leg before. But Leyland, struggling at 117 for 9 just saw the game through.
Earlier Darwen's Chris Wade took three for 22, including bowling Leyland captain and professional Brett Pelser and having the in-form Luis Reece and Andrew Makinson both caught behind by Jordan Clarke.
Alex Davies flicks Brett Pelser away for legside runs |
Clarke had demonstrated his growing maturity as a batsman by batting throughout the Darwen innings for a fluent unbeaten 54 off 55 balls.
Clarke and Alex Davies (37 off 32 balls) shared a second wicket stand of 68 that formed the cornerstone of the Darwen innings after pro Khan had been trapped leg before by Pallett.
Jordan Clarke steers James Rounding for four |
Leg-spinner Afsar ruined Darwen's hopes of setting a 150-plus target with a magical spell of four for 8 off his four overs.
Afsar grabbed the wickets of Darwen captain Neil Cordingley, Niall Burke, Danny Fradd and Mark Emery and also collected that T20 rarity - a maiden over.
T20 Cup holders Preston, unbeaten so far, are now firm favourites to qualify from this group with the added incentive of staging Finals Day
The Leyland Twenty20 team led by pro Brett Pelser |
Scorecard:
Darwen 122 - 6, Leyland 123 - 9
