St Annes CC 172-8 Chorley CC 46-1

SATURDAY'S potentially attractive Vaux Northern League clash with reigning champions St Annes at Windsor Park was ultimately ruined by the weather when a fierce storm forced an abandonment shortly after 6.30pm with both sides collecting two points.

St Annes have not won a toss all season and that run continued with Roland Horridge inserting his opponents after his opposite number again called incorrectly.

Nevertheless St Annes started well with Darlington and West Indian professional Eldine Baptiste putting on exactly 100 for the first wicket.

Darlington was bowled by Eccleshare for 33, whereupon the visitors lost wickets regularly.

After Baptiste had departed for 62, only Bradley (36) made any sizeable contribution down the order as rain trimmed the St Annes innings to 47 overs - Eccleshare the pick of the bowlers with 4-38.

Further rain during the tea interval delayed the start of the Chorley innings meaning they would have to score briskly to reach their target.

Fazackerley soon went, well caught at short leg off Baptise, but the West Indian had no further success.

Indeed, Heaton hooked imperiously out of the ground before a veritable monsoon drove the players from the field for the final time with the game intriguingly poised with Chorley needing 127 to win off 18 overs with wickets in hand.

On Sunday, Chorley travelled to Sefton on Merseyside and progressed to the next round of the Lancashire Knockout thanks to a 28-run victory.

Batting first, Chorley totalled 200-7 from their 45 overs with openers Fazackerley and Heaton both making 52.

The Sefron reply was always behind the asking rate and despite 44 from Indian opener Mahadanaarchi, they ultimately fell short.

This Saturday Chorley make the short trip to Leyland Daf before making the longer journey on Sunday to Netherfield in the Abbot Ale Cup.

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