NETHERFIELD opened up a 48-point lead at the top of Northern Premier Cricket League Division one after a resounding seven-wicket win against second-placed Chorley at Parkside Road.

Mark Clarkson’s first innings return of 5-21, which included a hat trick, and Marc Hadwin's figures of 4-7 saw Chorley all out for 77.

South African professional Obus Pienaar signed off from his time at Netherfield with an undefeated knock of 20 as Netherfield closed on 80-3 off 23.2 overs.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Netherfield made a good start as Clarkson picked up the wicket of Edwin Moulton whose tame effort was caught by Josh Dixon.

However, the best was yet to come for Clarkson, who picked up a stunning hat trick. He ripped through to bowl Stuart Naden and Will Moulton, before the opening bowler completed the hat trick by trapping Alexander Howarth LBW while Chorley were left struggling on 16-4.

Hadwin, who was brought into the attack, claimed the prize wicket of Gayan Maneeshan whose drive for six was caught by Pienaar, before the spinner picked up the wicket of Andrew Holdsworth who fell for 0.

Netherfield continued to rip through the visitors as Pienaar saw off Kye Dixon who picked out Dan Ingham, while Chorley slumped onto 66-7.

Hadwin claimed his third wicket when Harry Barclay was stumped by Lewis Edge, and then bowled James Lee as the spinner finished with a return of 4-7.

Clarkson cleaned the innings up after clean bowling Ian Oakes for his five-wicket haul as Chorley were all out for 77 off 38.2 overs.

In reply, Ben Barrow and Brad Earl set about the chase in emphatic fashion with a first wicket stand of 33. Chorley did make a breakthrough when Lee trapped Barrow LBW, while John Huck was bowled for 0 as Netherfield edged along onto 44-2.

Earl, who top scored with 31, was the next to depart after seeing his attempted drive caught by Alexander Howarth off the bowling of Chris Harty.

However, Pienaar's unbeaten 20 and Josh Dixon's undefeated 10 saw Netherfield close on 80-3 off 23.2 overs. Pienaar claimed the winning runs after powering the ball over the boundary ropes as the south African signed off from his time at Parkside Road on a winning note.

Netherfield travel to St Annes on Saturday.