NETHERFIELD notched up 12 points against third-from-bottom Chorley to keep them within striking distance of the top four.

The Lancashire side won the toss and chose to bat first, providing a dream start for Netherfield when wicketkeeper John Huck caught Stuart Naden in the second over for just one off Chris Williams.

But Chorley got it together with two good partnerships. First Jack Bentham (12) and Iain Critchley put on 43 to take their score to 44 before Bentham was caught by Robbie Lambert off Marc Hadwin.

Then Critchley and Gaurav Dhar doubled their score when Dhar was dismissed for 25 to leave Chorley 88-3 in the 25th over.

Will Moulton didn’t last long before he was run out after facing six balls, while Andrew Holdworth could only add four runs to the total as Chorley scored runs at a very slow rate, reduced to 109-5.

Critchley went on to score 63 before Williams, who bowled 4-35 including four maidens, claimed his wicket when the Chorley batsman was caught by Marc Brown in what would prove to be Netherfield’s last wicket of the innings in the 37th and final over, Chorley scoring 125-6.

The match had been reduced 13 overs a side due to rain forcing play to only begin at 2.30pm.

In reply ‘Field got off to a shaky start when Williams was caught in the gully by Moulton for one, and pro Cobus Pienaar was dismissed for a two-ball duck at second slip when Kieran McCullagh caught him off Billy Smith to claim the bowler’s second wicket of the innings Netherfield were 12-2 when John Huck entered the fray with Brown, and the pair put on 71 runs between them to put them firmly in the driving seat.

Huck hit seven fours and two sixes on his way to an unbeaten 63 off 89 balls.

Brown was out for 37 in the 25th over, but Ben Haddrick, showing much-improved form lower down the order, came in and scored 24 not out to provide ample support for vice-captain Huck.

It was enough to secure a seven-wicket victory for Netherfield in the 32nd over.