Weekend cricket round-up

Leyland claimed the derby day honours on Saturday as they defeated Chorley in a low-scoring Northern League Division One contest at Windsor Park.
Wihan Lubbe (right), in action here against Leyland, took five wicketsWihan Lubbe (right), in action here against Leyland, took five wickets
Wihan Lubbe (right), in action here against Leyland, took five wickets

The home side appeared set for a fine win as they dimissed David Makinson’s men for just 126 off 49.1 overs.

However, Leyland’s bowlers found the conditions to their liking to bowl their opponents out for a meagre 94 inside 33 overs – and maintain the club’s position at the top of the table.

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Edwin Moulton (2-54) and Keiran McCullagh (2-19) had got the home side off to a great start with a couple of early wickets.

Professional Wihan Lubbe then took centre stage as he claimed a five-wicket haul, conceding just 29 runs off 17 overs.

Opener Chris Parkinson struck seven fours in a knock of 30 and Makinson (32) pushed the total into three figures with some late-order runs.

Chorley’s reply got off to the worst possible start as Stuart Naden was sent back to the pavilion in the first over without a run on the board.

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Wickets tumbled at regular intervals as Makinson (4-34) and Ross Bretherton (3-11) turned the screw.

Lubbe (23) and Jack Bentham (28) threatened to turn the game back in Chorley’s favour but two late wickets from Henry Thompson sealed their fate.

Preston suffered defeat at Fleetwood but not before putting up a valiant batting effort, which saw them fall 18 runs short of the hosts’ sizeable total of 208-7.

That score was built around a fine 87 from Travis Dean who was given able support by Dean Bell (49). Lukman Vahaluwala chipped in with 3-14. In reply, Preston looked on course for victory with Sajid Patel (64) and Irshad Desai (50 not out) at the crease.

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But once Patrick Ashton had clean bowled Patel – one of seven wickets for the Aussie paceman – the visitors suffered a mini batting collapse.

No.10 Nizamuddin Patel (29) attempted to repair the damage but once he fell to Ashton, Preston were bowled out for 190 inside the 42nd over.

Elsewhere in the division, Blackpool kept up the pressure on Leyland with an emphatic away win over Netherfield.

Good contributions from their top order – including knocks of 47 and 42 not out from Ciaran Johnson and Richard Gleeson respectively allowed Blackpool to post 192-6.

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In reply, the home side slumped to 62-8 as Gleeson (4-14) and Daniel Pile (4-33) made inroads.

Daniel Ingham’s quickfire 42 added some respectability to the home side’s total but they were dismissed 83 runs behind.

Barrow are up to third after a resounding victory over reigning champions Morecambe at Woodhill Lane.

A brilliant century from Kaustubh Pawar enabled the visitors to post a huge 268 all out. Morecambe fell 44 runs short of victory despite Gareth Pedder’s excellent 115.

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St Annes enjoyed an excellent away win at Penrith after posting 166 all out thanks largely to Shadley van Schalkwyk’s 83.

Paul Hindmarch took 7-37. In reply the home side were dismissed for 124.

Lancaster were well beaten by Kendal at Shap Road as the hosts eased past their opponents’ total of 154 for the loss of just two wickets.

Fulwood and Broughton maintained their hold on top spot in the Moore and Smalley Palace Shield Premier Division by thrashing bottom side Fylde at the weekend.

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Mark Smith’s side dominated from start to finish to stay ahead of second-placed Vernon Carus, who have the same number of points.

Remarkably, after being put in to bat at Moorland Road, F&B accumulated a total above 200, despite none of their batsmen posting a score over 30, Smith the leading batter with 27.

Daniel Smith impressed with the ball, taking 4-50 and Anthony Ellison 3-46 as the visitors closed on 212-9.

In reply, Fylde were never at the races as they were routed for a paltry 88 inside 31 overs. Matthew Smith was the pick of the bowlers with 4-17.

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Vernons are looking strong although they were given an almighty fright by Thornton Cleveleys at Illawalla.

The hosts looked on course for a comfortable victory after posting a mammoth 258-8, before reducing the hosts to 119-7, with Matthew Timm (7-89) among the wickets.

However, a late counter-attack by James Booth (49) and Jake Apperley (40) put the home side in with a shout.

Unfortunately for them, they fell 23 runs short of a famous victory. Earlier, James McDonagh top scored for Vernons with 67.

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Garstang slipped off the pace at the top after a surprising loss against Whittingham and Goosnargh at the Riverside.

Sheeraz Polli took four wickets to restrict the home side to 163-9 and, in a thrilling run chase, Whittingham edgd to victory with just one wicket to spare.

Ryan Wells took 4-31, but knocks of 35 and 32 from Husein Yusuf and Dalvi Kazim helped the visitors to victory.

Longridge moved up to fourth with a fine five-wicket win over reigning champions Great Eccleston at Chipping Road.

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Mohamed Nadeem’s brilliant century helped Great Ecc to an imposing total of 231-7 as they batted first.

However, the home side chased down the total with just under two overs to spare thanks in the main to excellent scores from James Whitehead (53) and Tom Howarth (70).

Penwortham’s challenge seems to be faltering after they went down to a disappointing loss at Torrisholme.

A fine half-century from Daniel Woods helped the home side to 168-9 and five wickets from James Heap restricted the visitors to 136-8 in reply.

Freckleton were resounding winners over Croston at Bush Lane. The visitors could only muster 93 after winning the toss and Freck knocked off the runs with ease.