CHORLEY's title hopes suffered a massive blow with this Bank Holiday defeat at Darwen, traditionally in bogey ground for Roland Horridge's side in recent years. Batting first Darwen posted a sizeable score with professional Semple smashing 84 with good support from Hadfield (40) and Gareth Cordingley (35) Purnell bowled well to finish with 4/50.
Chorley lost openers Bannister and Critchley to LBW decisions, the latter receiving a debatable decision.
Smith and Horridge both fell fairly cheaply and when Senior was bowled, Chorley were 94/5 inside the final 20 overs. Fazackerley and Patel though mounted a spirited revival adding 54 with Fazackerley hammering three huge sixes before Patel was dismissed.
Yardley was also run out before Purnell was adjudged LBW to a ball he seemed to hit. Ultimately Chorley's game effort ended with Cooke's suicidal run out leaving Fazackerley unbeaten for a superb 73 off just 80 balls.
What difference a fit Heaton would have made is food for thought!
On Saturday Chorley collected 12 points for a narrow win against Preston.
Batting first on winning the toss, Preston were soon in trouble as Patel grabbed three quick wickets to reduce them to 11/3. Marquet, not to be outdone, then trapped Anthony Mann LBW, adding injury to insult by breaking his big toe in the bargain.
Marquet picked up two more wickets and when Patel had Parekh caught behind, Preston were 65/7 with 35 overs gone.
A stand of 47 between Paul Mann and Shah revived the home side but they were finally dismissed for 119, Marquet and Patel taking four wickets each.
Chorley's innings get off to an equally dodgy start and the scoreboard soon read 41/5, but Heaton significantly was still there.
From 68/6 Horridge batting down the order helped Heaton add a vital 36 in testing conditions and after Horridge played on, Purnell joined Heaton to see Chorley home.
Heaton remained unbeaten on 58, a superb knock in very difficult circumstances in a day when there were just nine boundaries struck in the match. Attritional cricket, but a good win.
On Saturday September 1 Chorley are at home to Netherfield.
RESULTS: DARWEN 205/9 v CHORLEY 166
PRESTON 119 v CHORLEY 122/
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