A SPLENDID all-round performance by professional Stephen John steered Chorley to another 12 points at Windsor Park on Saturday.

Having won a rare toss Nigel Heaton asked Lancaster to bat first and their progress was staccato with the Chorley bowlers managing to take their wickets every time a partnership threatened.

John picked up the first three before Billy Smith grabbed the prize scalp of visiting professional Munnik, comprehensively bowled for 29.

The biggest stand of the innings was one of 38 between Simm and Rawes, terminated when the latter was LBW to Holdsworth.

Dhar removed top scorer Simm for 32, the LBW decision displeasing the batsman and sparking a massive show of dissent which will no doubt interest the league authorities.

Tom Smith then swept away the tail, finishing with 3/27 while John's final analysis of 20-7-33-4 was a terrific effort.

Chorley's reply got off to a rollicking start as Tom Smith hooked two sixes off the first over bowled by Munnik before blasting another terrific huge straight six off Barnes.

Barnes had quick revenge, though, winning a LBW decision and when Munnik shattered Woods' stumps, Chorley were reeling at 33/2.

However John and Heaton retrieved the situation with a 66-run partnership, ended when the captain was controversially caught on the fence with many feeling the fielder was over the rope.

John though was unperturbed, playing some terrific shots to bring up his 50 at around a run a ball before being finally caught for 80 with the scores level.

He didn't bother to do too much running, either, cracking eight boundaries and four sixes in a stay of just under an hour-and-a-half. Wonderful entertainment.

This Saturday Chorley are at home again when Leyland Motors are the visitors.