Skipper Baxendale praises new record holder
Darren Moore set a new club record at Chorley on Saturday
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Darren Moore set a new Carnforth club record by scoring an unbeaten 140 in the Division Two game against Chorley at Windsor Park.
Moore's innings was the highest for the club in Division Two, surpassing the 128 hit by Tom Barnfield against Fleetwood at Lodge Quarry in 2006.
Moore, first team captain in 2009 and 2010, was making a rare appearance in Carnforth's Second XI after asking to step down to recover his batting form after a disappointing run of scores for a player of his undoubted quality.
He certainly did that, smashing 13 fours and ten sixes off only 91 balls as Carnforth not only beat Chorley but the weather. Stu Naden had made an accomplished 87 as Chorley made 218/4 off their 50 overs.
Rain then intervened and lopped 15 overs off Carnforth's reply. But Moore's spectacular hitting saw the visitors make short work of the testing target and they won by five wickets with seven balls to spare. Wayne Tomlinson (32) and Jason Cornthwaite (24 not out) also made important contributions.
Carnforth were bottom of Division Two in 2010 but have made a considerable revival this year under captain Garry Baxendale, a long serving club stalwart.
Their third win of the season lifted them to fifth place, just 11 points behind leaders Leyland.
"Darren was absolute quality, it was like he was back to his old self," said Baxendale. "It was an absolutely superb innings.
"We lost 15 overs and our target initially was to get to 140 and then re-assess things. But Darren was in such good nick we were in a position to go for the win. After drinks he just began to tee off and he destroyed some of the Chorley bowling. Some of his shots were just fantastic. The young spinner, Matthew Critchley bowled well at him and stuck to his task really well, I was very impressed by him.
"It was a very good win and continued the recent good run we've had. Last week we beat leaders Netherfield by one run in a low-scoring game and now we've won by chasing a big score so that shows that we are learning to win games."
But with five first teamers unavailable for next week's trip to Fleetwood Baxendale is resigned to losing the services of Moore and maybe a few more of his players. "That's the way of things," he said, "something you have to accept. The first team comes first and Darren will undoubtedly step back up. He's a first team player and hopefully that innings will have kick-started his season."
Previoius record holder Tom Barnfield
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