Chorley CC 124, Leyland Daf CC 122

AN absorbing day's cricket saw Chorley collect 15 points from the narrowest of margins in this derby clash.

Leyland DAF must be kicking themselves after losing from such a seemingly invincible position only to collapse in an extraordinary finish.

Batting first on an indifferent track, Chorley were given a solid start of 32 for the first wicket by Bannister and Patel before a flurry of wickets reduced them to 49-4.

Patel top scored with 30 and the eventual total of 124-9 was bolstered by Oakes' unbeaten 20 and an ultimately vital ninth wicket stand of 34 between Oakes and Marquet.

For DAF, professional John bowled unchanged from one end to finish with 3-52 while Prince also produced a marathon spell to take a season's best 6-40.

The DAF reply was soon in disarray as Makinson was LBW first ball to Marquet and Patel removed Catterall and Howarth to leave the visitors 7-3.

John and Aspinall then produced the biggest stand of the day to take the total beyond 60 before the introduction of Mawdesley induced an ill-advised slog off John, well caught by Oakes.

The same bowler ended Aspinall's obduration but Richardson and Edelstone took the score past three figures and DAF's victory seemed assured.

Incredibly, in a frenetic finale, five wickets fell for 19 runs as a trio of LBW decisions left DAF two runs short of a rare victory in their difficult season and saw Chorley move up to third spot.