LEIGH continued their unbeaten league record in the Liverpool Competition with a thrilling match at Huyton whose last pair denied the local lads maximum points.

Batting first, Leigh were given a flying start as Greg Dimery made 78 and David Dove added 62. When Leigh maximised batting points at 180 they declared to give Huyton three hours to reach the target.

The home side were up with the run rate and went into the last hour needing only 71 with six wickets in hand.

Cliff Gorst made two vital breakthroughs and Graham Duddle enticed Robson and McLochlan out of their crease to give Clive Muir the chance completing the stumpings.

As Leigh pressed for victory with the fielders around the bat the Huyton tailenders hit back and three sixes from Moore put them back in the driving seat.

Moore was then brilliantly run out by Dimery and, with the last pair at the wicket, nine were wanted from two overs. Graham Duddle bowled a maiden and Dave Potter conceded three runs from five balls in the final over to leave six from the last ball too great a task.

On Sunday Leigh progressed to the second round of the Littlewoods League Cup with a 37-run win over St Helens.

Greg Dimery and Steve Bailey added 184 for the first wicket in just 31 overs. The day belonged to Steve Bailey who hit a magnificent 102, his second century of the season from just 105 balls.

Leigh's innings closed on 242-4 which proved too much for St Helens.

Next Saturday Leigh visit New Brighton. HUYTON v LEIGH

Leigh

G Dimery c Wilkie b WithersM-I78

S Bailey c Rust b WithersM-I14

D Dove c Leonard b RustM-I62

D Charlson not outM-I2

C Muir not outM-I8

ExtrasM-I12

Total (for 3 dec)...180

Bowling P Withers 16-6-39-2; A Moore 7-2-27-0; G Leonard 5-1-27-0; E Godward 4-0-38-0; M Rust 7-0-36-1.

M Wilkie c Muir b GorstM-I30

G Leonard lbw PotterM-I2

E Godward c Dove b PotterM-I5

R Smith b GorstM-I19

I Robson s Muir b DuddleM-I51

R Conlan b CharlsonM-I5

S Ruane run outM-I12

B McLochlan s Muir b DuddleM-I0

A Moore run outM-I20

P Withers not outM-I11

M Rust not outM-I4

ExtrasM-I17

Total (for 9)...176

Bowling G Duddle 14-6-35-2; D Potter 14-6-31-2; G Dimery 6-1-25-0; C Gorst 7-1-21-2; C Marshall 5-1-30-0; D Charlson 7-1-24-1 LEIGH v ST HELENS

Leigh

G Dimery c N Woods b D NashM-I78

G Bailey c P Roughley b D NashM-I102

D Dove c N Woods b G SheppardM-I16

C Muir c G Cropper b G SheppardM-I23

C Gorst not outM-I5

D Charlson not outM-I3

ExtrasM-I15

Total (for 4)...242

Bowling I Mackus 38-0-0-0; G Sheppard 38-2-0-0; P Roughley 31-0-0-0; A Friar 32-0-0-0; D Cropper 32-0-0-0; D Nash 45-2-0-0.

D Nash c & b G DimeryM-I30

P Roughley c S Bailey b D PotterM-I54

I Mackus c S Bailey b D CharlsonM-I19

D Tymes c S Whalley b C GorstM-I20

N Woods c D Dove b D PotterM-I20

A Friar c S Whalley c C GorseM-I21

G Sheppard b C GorstM-I4

I Lawless run outM-I4

G Cropper c C Muir b G DuddleM-I9

D Cropper not outM-I1

G J Cropper not outM-I6

ExtrasM-I10

Total (for 9)...205

Bowling G Duddle 37-1-0-0; D Potter 50-2-0-0; G Dimery 42-1-0-0; C Gorst 42-3-2-0; D Charlson 28-1-2-0.

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