Skipper returns to steal the derby show

If and when Leyland cricket captain David Makinson finally hangs up his cricket boots, they will probably throw a party at Chorley CC.
Cricket action from the Leyland, batting, v Chorley game at Fox Lane, Leyland. Leyland captain David Makinson. Picture by Paul Heyes, Saturday June 04, 2016.Cricket action from the Leyland, batting, v Chorley game at Fox Lane, Leyland. Leyland captain David Makinson. Picture by Paul Heyes, Saturday June 04, 2016.
Cricket action from the Leyland, batting, v Chorley game at Fox Lane, Leyland. Leyland captain David Makinson. Picture by Paul Heyes, Saturday June 04, 2016.

The Leyland club stalwart par excellence has been a thorn in the side of the Windsor Park men on countless occasions in the past.

And on a sultry, steamy day at Fox Lane on Saturday, he was once again the deciding factor as the home side took the derby spoils to maintain their lead at the top of the Northern Premier Cricket League Division One table.

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On a wicket which could politely be described as treacherous, Chorley had done what was asked of them.

They knew that on such a surface, they just needed to plug away on as decent line and length and the wickets would come.

And they did just that, professional Wihan Lubbe in particular being accurate enough to earn an eventual five wicket haul as the home side toiled in the heat.

Only keeper Chris Parkinson with a battling 30 had kept them at bay, and when Leyland were reduced to 98 for 9, the visitors were entitled to think the job was half done and they were in the driving seat.

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But in stepped Makinson and he dug in to claim a priceless 32 runs as the last pair put on 28 as Leyland posted a total of 126-10.

Suddenly, there were new favourites given the vagaries of the wicket and the knowledge that there’s nobody better than Makinson to make the most of such a situation.

And so it proved. The veteran claimed four wickets and Ross Bretherton picked up three scalps as Chorley’s run chase failed to ignite then briefly flickered before fizzling out in depressing fashion.

It was always going to be a struggle, and the omens were against Ian Dickinson’s men as soon as Stuart Naden departed with the score still on zero.

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Lubbe’s rapid 23 raised Chorley hopes for a time, but when he holed out to deep square leg, those hopes faded quickly.

And despite some dogged late resistance from Jack Bentham, Leyland bowled Chorley out for 94 to continue their fine run.

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