LEYLAND finished four runs short of victory as Netherfield ended their season with a winning draw at Parkside Road on Saturday.

Sri Lankan professional Saliya Saman signed off his year at Netherfield with an impressive knock of 74 including seven sixes and four fours as the home side posted 218-9 off their allotted overs.

In reply Leyland looked on course for victory as they stood on 195-4 after 45 overs but failed to find the required 24 runs in the final 30 deliveries.

In the final game of the season, Netherfield won the toss and chose to bat with openers Ben Phillips and Marc Brown at the crease.

The pair made just 14 runs before captain Brown was caught at cover by Ross Bretherton off the bowling of Andrew Jacques.

Brown’s dismissal brought Saman into play and alongside Phillips hit a partnership of 55 before the latter was caught and bowled by left-arm spinner David Makinson in the 15th over.

Tom Williamson was next in and he proved a handy support as Saman began to smash boundaries around the field before Makinson claimed his second wicket to send Williamson (6) back to the pavilion.

Andrew Makinson picked up the prize wicket of Saman clean bowled in the 27th over before John Huck (4) fell under the spell of David Makinson in the following over.

Netherfield looked to be in trouble at 125-5 but Joe Atkinson and Bradley Earl proved to be more than capable putting on a sixth wicket stand of 88 to propel them to 213 before the latter was caught at point by A Makinson in the 48th over.

Mark Clarkson (0) went in the same over and Matthew Goodall the following over to bring an end to Netherfield’s innings.

Leyland’s Chris Parkinson (6) was an early wicket in their reply but Luis Reece and Henry Thompson spent more than two hours at the crease as they boosted the score to 136 before Reece (78) was caught by Dan Gaunt behind off the bowling of Saman in the 37th over.

Wickets tumbled quickly in the remaining overs as first Thompson (77) was trapped by Clarkson.
Gaunt took his second catch as Sam Oldham (4) was dismissed before a direct hit from Williamson brought an end to Nathan McDonnell’s 22.

With 21 needed from just under five overs Clarkson and Earl bowled superbly to restrict the remaining batsmen as Netherfield ended their season with a close winning draw.