Zimmy Khan's all round display wins game for Darwen
Darwen pro Zimmy Khan on his way to the top score of 49
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Darwen began their campaign in the Jamie Heywood Twenty20 Cup sponsored by Latham Baxendale by edging out Leyland by two runs in a thrilling game at a sun kissed Fox Lane.
John Cordingley's side kept their nerve to defend their modest total of 115/7 thanks to some tight bowling and superb fielding.
Leyland arrived at the last over on 100/7 needing 16 for victory with pro Brett Pelser still at the crease.
Pelser hit a magnificent straight six off the first ball, bowled by Darwen pro Mohammad Zaman Khan before holing out to a superbly judged catch by Neil Cordingley at long on next ball. The Leyland Twenty20 captain had made 38 off 29 balls.
David Fisher then smashed the next ball for six to leave Leyland just four short before getting a single. Peter Cummings was then trapped leg before leaving last man Tayyab Afsar to face the final ball. He was unable to make contact and Darwen wicketkeeper Alex Davies effected a run out to leave Leyland 113 all out.
Leyland openers Luis Reece and Chris Parkinson had given their side a fine start, adding 45 before Reece was superbly caught by Kamran Anwar off Khan for 24. Parkinson was bowled by Niall Burke for 20 after Burke had claimed the wicket of Adam Coates, to an outstanding catch by Khan.
Luis Reece hit 24 before becoming one of Khan's four wickets
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Wickets then fell regularly with Neil Cordingley claiming 2/22, Burke 2/17 and Khan a match-winning 4/28.
Earlier the Darwen pro rode his luck to anchor his side's innings with 49 off 40 balls. Khan was dropped twice in the outfield before becoming one of Pelser's three victims in a spell of 3/16.
Darwen's Alex Davies attempts a reverse sweep
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Danny Fradd hit two sixes in a valuable unbeaten 19 off 11 balls and added 30 in an unbroken eighth wicket stand with Mark Emery which ultimately made the difference.
The visitors hit just five boundaries in their innings, including four sixes but judiciously ran singles and then fielded tigerishly. Leyland hit five fours and five sixes and yet still finished the losers.
A good-sized crowd at Fox Lane was royally entertained with the game ending just before nine o'clock.
Darwen play Preston at Birch Hall on Friday evening with other games scheduled at Carnforth (against Lancaster)
The Fleetwood v St Annes game will now be played on the 30th June.
Twenty20 Cup sponsored by Latham Baxendale
Leyland v Darwen
Darwen 115/7 (20) (MZ Khan 49, B Pelser 3/16), Leyland 113 (B Pelser 38, MZ Khan 4/28)
Darwen won by 2 runs at 8.59pm
The Scorecard can be found here:
http://npcl.play-cricket.com/website/results/1739004
