Cricket - Netherfield champions: Ferguson hits 74 for record (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Cricket - Netherfield champions: Ferguson hits 74 for record

7:09pm Saturday 13th September 2008 in Sport By Gazette Sports

NETHERFIELD CC are celebrating becoming 3-D Northern Cricket League first division champions in a nerve-wracking finish after a four-wicket win at Morecambe's Woodhill Lane ground.

Saturday's 12-point victory saw them home as second-placed Blackpool,the only club that could overhaul them, were held to a draw at home to Chorley.

But it was a close call as Chorley were eight wickets down for the draw to deny Blackpool the 15-point victory that would have seen them snatch the championship.

It was an historic occasion, too, as Netherfield's Australian professional Callum Ferguson set a new league batting record.

Ferguson was in great form and hammered a cascade of sixes in his 74 to take him to a total of 1,381 runs with an average of 106 - beating Terry Hunte's aggregate high set back in 1994.

Netherfield lost the toss and Morecambe batted, making 125-7, while Netherfield finished on 129-6, with Chris Miller hitting the winning four.

Kendal started the weekend in fourth place, still in with an outside chance of the title, and they beat Preston by six wicket - bowling out the visitors for 106 and winning on 108-4.