ANY repeat of Leigh CC's massive 221-run victory against Northop Hall in the first game of the season was out of the question as the Welshmen, strengthened by the inclusion in their side of Pakistani Test off-spinner Arshad Khan, proved to be much tougher opponents.

After a see-saw match, in which the batsmen treated the spectators to a feast of entertaining strokeplay, Leigh achieved a thrilling four-wicket win with 14 balls to spare having needed 204.

Soon in trouble

The visitors won the toss and batted and were soon in trouble at 28- 4 after another fierce opening salvo from Jo Angel and Ronnie Davis. When their sixth wicket fell at 81 they seemed to be dead and buried but once again Leigh's back up bowlers lacked penetration on an easy paced wicket.

Only Sparks (37) and Arshad Khan (22 including 3 sixes) of the early batsmen had been successful but Peters (48 no) and Powell (46) eventually took complete control enabling Northop Hall to declare at tea time with a total of 203-8 off 58 overs.

Even Angel was made to work hard for wickets as he claimed 4-46 off 17 overs. Davis proved his return to fitness by getting through a lengthy opening spell of 16 overs and finishing with figures of 20-7-40-3.

Arshad Khan opened the bowling and was given a foretaste of what was to follow when Steven Mullaney hit him for a towering straight six in only his second over. Mullaney and Andy Batterley scored a positive 29 for the first wicket before Batterley was caught at deep square leg off Khan for 15.

Khan followed this up by immediately removing Davis and Angel without scoring. Fifteen-year-old Mullaney defied the crisis and batted quite magnificently and once again showed great maturity. His innings of 55 was full of superb strokeplay as he scored eight fours and two sixes and good support from Gareth Cross helped him push the score along to 100 before he was fourth man out. Steve Bailey quickly followed as he was the victim of a doubtful looking lbw decision and Leigh still had plenty to do to win the game.

Cross and Dave Dove continued to attack until the wicketkeeper was out with the total at 139 after another top class innings had brought him 45 runs. Dove was then joined by Ben Cottrell and a confident unbeaten partnership of 65 between these two saw Leigh home. Dove's welcome return to form saw him score 44 and Cottrell showed just how much his batting has improved with a fine unbeaten 35. Khan bowled throughout the innings to finish with 4-56 off 24.4 overs.

Short boundary

The batsmen took advantage of the short boundary to score 15 sixes in all, nine to Leigh and six to Northop Hall and the Beech Walk side finally overcame their recent inability to win batting second and gained a very useful 23 points.

On Saturday Lytham are the visitors to Beech Walk and Leigh will be keen to avenge their cup defeat at Church Road on May Bank Holiday Monday.