Lancaster edge Darwen in Thriller

After arriving at the ground, with the majority of the side worse for wear, the 1sts pulled off an important 15 point victory that see them leave the foot off the table by a clear margin. Having lost the toss, despite the last minute preparation, the wicket proved difficult. However the pleasing aspect of the batting performance was that 5 men made it to double figures, all scores which were worth twice their value with the long outfield and tricky pitch. The mainstay of the innings was the 40 run partnership between Mini Moff (Kieran Moffat) and Timmy (pro) which eased the now famed early order jitters. Timmy top scored with 39 while contributions from Danny Welbourne (10) Pezza (10) (Iain Perryman) and Mini Moff (10), meant the home side crept to a below par but rather competitive 96 all out with Neil Cordingley snaffling 6-31.

Early breakthroughs proved hard to come early in the Darwen innings, with Pezza and Liam Moffat (Moff) beating the edge but not quite finding it. Skipper Ben Simm provided the eventual opening scalp, Lowe sweeping to JD for 6. At 36-1 however Darwen were in the box seat with Burke and de Kock opening up. Timmy entered the attack from the river end, and, well supported by Moff and Pez, began to pick up wickets. The visiting batsmen looked all at sea against Timmy's flight and vicious wrong'un, and on a turning deck it he was nigh on impossible to play. The game had shifted but was far from over as Gareth Cordingley provided stern resistance with a gritty 14. Ably aided by Nathan Jackson and some lacklustre fielding (guilty) it looked like another 'Chorley' from early IN the season could repeat itself. However Pezza produced a brute of a ball to remove the limpet-like G. Cordingley, and Timmy wrapped up proceedings with a sharp caught and bowled, Leaving Darwen 11 short.

Highlights: T. Maruma 39 & 5-23, L. Moffat 3-18, I Perryman 1-21.