Weekend cricket round-up

Smith’s 113 helped title-holders F&B to a first innings tally of 217-6 at Highfield, Rob Dingle having hit 53 at the top of the order.

In reply, Vernons were 156 all out.

David Fisher top scored with 44, Ian Dunn hitting 30.

There was a five-wicket haul for Josh Edwards, his 5-23 coming off 8.3 orders.

Longridge maintained their 100% start to the season with a hard-fought victory over top-flight newcomers Eccleston.

They won by two wickets at Doctor’s Lane, the home side pushing them all the way.

Eccleston elected to bat first on their home track and were 120 all out in 41.5 overs.

Matthew Ashcroft top scored with 28.

There were five wickets for Jonathan Millward – he posted 5-23 in 12 overs – while Ian Simpson took 3-24.

Longridge’s top three all lost their wickets for single figures – it was Luke Platt 
who took control to push the scoreboard along.

Platt struck 51, with seven fours coming off his bat.

It was Millward and Kyle Helm at the crease when the winning runs were scored, the visitors closing on 121-8.

Longridge are one of two sides to win their first three games, Garstang the other.

They beat Penwortham by four wickets at Middleforth.

After being invited to bat, Penwortham were 149 all out.

Opener Robbie Sumner hit 29, while there were useful knocks lower down the order.

Garstang chased down their target helped by 
an unbeaten 44 from Matthew Crowden

His knock featured three sixes and five fours.

There was an eight-wicket victory for Great Eccleston over Croston.

Sam Marsh hit 53 and Ian Dickinson 31 as Croston were 176 all out at Hall Lane.

The home side replied with 177-2 to claim the win, opener Muhammed Imran-Sadiq the start turn with an unbeaten 115.

Torrisholme beat Rufford by five wickets in their clash at Boundary Meadow.

Rufford opted for first use of the track and posted 157-9, a target Torrisholme reached in the 41st over of their reply.

Greg Tirrell took seven wickets to help Thornton Cleveleys beat Freckleton.

His 7-49 came as the home side dismissed Freck for 148.

In reply, Thornton were 149-6.

Chorley and Leyland share the early leadership of the Northern League.

Both clubs have 100% records after three games and have 45 points.

Sri Lankan professional Gayan Maneeshan scored a century in Chorley’s victory over Kendal at Windsor Park.

His unbeaten 101 featured 10 sixes and five fours, with him facing just 73 deliveries.

Chorley were replying to Kendal’s first-innings tally of 197-9, a decent effort in itself.

Ryan Shepherd scored 73 and opening partner Zachary McCaskie 50 for the visitors.

Will Moulton took 3-28, with Maneeshan and Edwin Moulton took a pair each.

A opening stand of 49 put together by Kyle Dixon and Jack Bentham represented a solid start.

Maneeshan then joined the action and push the score along at a rapid rate.

Chorley chased down their target in the 45th over, closing on 199-3.

There was another ton in Leyland’s 83-run victory over Preston at Fox Lane.

It came from the home side’s Henry Thompson who struck an unbeaten 108.

Invited to bat first after Preston had won the toss, Leyland posted 234-8 in 49 overs, Thompson coming in at three.

His century included 16 boundaries, and he faced122 balls.

There were four wickets for Preston’s Rizwan Ali.

In reply, Preston were bowled out for 151.

Their top five batsmen all made double figures, Irshad Desai and Jitendra Kumar both hitting 27.

But Leyland’s attack got on top, Ross Bretherton taking 3-56, while David Makinson, Thompson and Will Jacques all took two wickets.

Lancaster won their visit to Barrow by four wickets, that their first victory of the season.

Ian Perrieman and Ben Simm took four wickets apiece to help Lancaster bowl out their hosts for 166.

Kasun Madusanka took the other two wickets, with Sam Henderson scoring 57 for Barrow.

In reply, Lancaster were 168-8, Jamie Heywood 
scoring 76 and Charlie Swarbrick 47.

Morecambe’s clash with Blackpool at Woodhill Lane ended in a draw, the visitors having the better of it.

Invited to bat, Blackpool put a commanding 242-5 on the board.

Tom Jefferson struck 90, Matthew Houston 54 and 
Anurag Verma 51.

Morecambe replied with 217-9, holding on to their last wicket to claim a draw.

Edward Read, batting at six, hit an unbeaten 53, his knock including three sixes and five fours.

St Annes beat Penrith by one wicket at Vernon Road.

The visitors were bowled out for 179, Guman Bains then hitting 44 as St Annes replied with 180-9.

Netherfield won their clash with Fleetwood.