Meyler Cup glory for the Riversiders

Garstang ended their Meyler Cup drought with victory against Vernon Carus in Sunday's final at Croston.
Garstang celebrate with the Meyler CupGarstang celebrate with the Meyler Cup
Garstang celebrate with the Meyler Cup

They dodged the showers to claim the cup for the first time since 1993 thanks to their superior run rate.

It was Vernons who had batted first and compiled 196-6 from 40 overs.

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In reply, the Riversiders had made their way to 148-1 thanks to the efforts of Michael and Mark Walling when rain stopped play.

Following a break, they came back out for play but only managed one more over before the showers finished the match altogether.

That one over had seen Garstang advance to 153-1, giving them victory over Vernon.

Michael Walling was adjudged man-of-the-match for his undefeated 86 while Mark Walling was 44 not out.

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Garstang’s route to the final started with an eight-wicket win over Freckleton.

They then defeated Fulwood and Broughton by 31 runs before a 37-run win over Eccleston in the last four.

The weather also interrupted the Moore and Smalley Palace Shield Premier Division fixture list on Saturday. Out of the scheduled six games, only three managed to reach a conclusion.

It proved to be a fruitful day for the top two – Fulwood and Broughton and Vernon Carus – as they took advantage of their rivals’ inactivity to pull away at the top.

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Leaders F&B certainly had one eye on the inclement weather as they thrashed bottom side Fylde, who are yet to pick up a win this season.

Amin Patel smacked 76 off just 34 balls as F&B posted a 167-5 declared off just 20.2 overs.

Ben Parkinson struck a quick-fire knock of 23, while Anthony Ellison returned figures of 3-54 off 10 overs. In reply, Fylde were dismissed for a paltry 59 inisde 16 overs as Matthew Smith took 4-31 and Arbab Munir claimed three wickets for four runs from just 2.2 overs.

That win kept them 11 points ahead of Vernons, who were comprehensive 10-wicket victors over Thornton Cleveleys.

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Thornton batted first and posted 100-8 from a rain reduced 36 overs. Vernons’ openers Ian Dunn (57) and David Fisher (41) then shared an unbroken century stand to claim the points.

Penwortham enjoyed a six-wicket win over Torrisholme after bowling them out for 62.