NPL Cricket -- Netherfield fail to leaders' stranglehold (From The Westmorland Gazette)

NPL Cricket -- Netherfield fail to leaders' stranglehold

4:03pm Thursday 11th August 2011 in Sport

NETHERFIELD failed to peg back league leaders St Annes, losing Saturday’s low-scoring clash by three wickets at Vernon Road.

Meanwhile, second-placed Leyland's maximum 15-point victory at Lancaster cut the gap to St Annes to ten points, and they have a match in hand of Netherfield in third a further 18 points adrift.

Invited to bat, Netherfield slumped to 13-3 as St Annes opening bowlers Ben Dowling and Ben Willis got on top.

St Annes were without professional Dinuka Hettiarachchi but and Kiwi George Worker, who has played for Scotland in limited overs this season, deputised.

His left-arm finger spin played a huge part in reducing Chris Parry's side to 63-8 before Ben Barrow (25) showed fighting spirit to get them to 110 all out in 38.3 overs.

Worker captured 6-38 with St Annes supporting him superbly in the field led by skipper Andy Kellett with two superb catches.

When St Annes replied, Netherfield's Australian professional Ben Laughlin turned in a hostile 3-44 spell of 16 overs, while Stuart Nixon took 2 for 28 including the key wicket of former Pakistan Test batsman Atiq Uz-Zaman.

Young St Annes batsman Nathan Bolus countered with 25 from 72 balls, but when he went the hosts were 81-7.

Experienced wicketkeeper Duncan Whalley (20no) and captain Andy Kellett (6no) had the last say, sharing a match-winning partnership of 31 to steer St Annes to a three-wicket win.

Kendal's home match with Chorley at a damp Shap Road was washed out after heavy showers plagued the Lake District.