NORTHERN League Chorley proved too strong for Palace Shield title hopes Longridge as they got home by four wickets in the ECB National Knockout Cup on Sunday, Josh McDowell and Tom Howarth both made 26 but Longridge’s batting didn’t fire in the face of accurate Chorley bowling at Windsor Park.

David Fisher led the way for the hosts with three wickets, while Billy Smith and Keiran McCullagh picked up two each as Longridge were all out for 122.

That target wasn’t plain sailing for Chorley, though, and it took 29 each from David Fisher and Will Moulton to ease them over the line, despite Howarth claiming 3-16 from nine overs.

Darwen were also winners in the National Kockout on Sunday as they beat Egerton by 39 runs at Birch Hall.

Kamran Anwar top scored with 62 for the Towers and skipper Jordan Clarke made 41 as the locals posted 227-8 from their 45 overs.

Chris Wade then led the way with three wickets and Nathan Jackson collected two as Darwen restricted Egerton to 188-9 and progressed to round two.

In the Palace Shield Longridge were celebrating a second straight Premier Division win 24 hours earlier as they brushed past Whittingham and Goosnargh in their derby clash.

Whittingham were bowled out for 120 with Rory McDowell claiming 6-38 from an excellent spell of bowling.

In reply, Daniel Wilkinson made an unbeaten half-century and Josh McDowell was 24 not out as they crusied to an eight-wicket win.

Withnell Fold had a tough day in the top flight as they were beaten by 10 wickets at Garstang.

Will Proctor claimed 7-13 as Fold were dashed out for just 64, a target reached inside 16 overs.

White Coppice edged home in Division One at Croston as Richard Fox’s 31 not out proved to be the difference. That helped the locals up to 134-8 from 45 overs on a tough track before Wayne Dixon claimed 7-43 from 22.1 overs as Croston folded to 124 all out in the final over.

Hoghton were also victorious as they beat Torrisholme by 25 runs in a low scoring but exciting game at Smithy Brow.

Darren Eccles made 39 for the hosts as they dragged their way up to 107-9 from their 45 overs before Will Monks claimed 6-27 and Matt Parkinson 3-14 from 12 overs to send Torrisholme crashing to 82 all out.