Chorley went within one wicket of recording a third Northern League win of the season as they were foiled by Carnforth’s last man on a day when the home side’s veteran professional Mel Whittle rolled back the years.

The locals were ultimately foiled by last man Warren Quinn – but earlier Whittle, who is now 64, made light of his age to cause Chorley problems.

Whittle, who has three times in his long career around a variety of Lancashire leagues claimed 100 wickets in a season, returned the glorious figures of 5-68 from an energy-sapping unbroken 24 over stint in the game at Lodge Quarry.

He accounted for batsmen Jack Catterall, Will Moulton and Jack Bentham as well as Chorley pro Gaurav Dhar and tail-ender Sam Tolley on a remarkble day as Chorley were all out for 189.

Dhar (44), Michael Critchley (35) and Moulton (33 including two sixes) were the main contributors in that total, which seemed to be under threat when opener Ryan Nelson hit a classy half century in rapid time.

But when spinner Iain Critchley got into his swing the game changed.

Adam Hornby had already fallen to Billy Smith and ex-Settle man Dickon Morris was also out when Critchley bowled Nelson – and from then on Carnforth were in trouble with Keiron McCullagh bowling well on his return from injury.

Chorley fell agonisingly short after last man Quinn blocked his only ball from Critchley, who claimed 5-32.

Chorley
J Catterall LBW Whittle 3
A Holdsworth b Cowperthwaite 14
M Critchley b Cowperthwaite 35
W Moulton LBW Whittle 33
I Critchley b Weller 13
Dhar b Whittle 44
J Bentham c Parker b Whittle 18
I Oakes b Nelson 0
S Tolley c Barnfield b Whittle 6
K McCullagh Not Out 6
B Smith st Barnfield b Nelson 1
Extras 16
Total (all out, 49.1 overs) 189.

A Cowperthwaite 10 1 51 2, Whittle 24 7 68 5, M Weller 5.3 0 17 1, D Nelson 9.4 0 44 2.

Carnforth
A Hornby c Moulton b Smith 19
R Nelson b Critchley 52
D Morris LBW Critchley 0
P Thornton b Critchley 6
T Barnfield c and b Dha 34
Whittle b McCullagh 18
R Parker b Critchley 18
D Nelson b Critchley 1
A Cowperthwaite LBW McCullagh 0
M Weller Not Out 1
W Quinn Not Out 0
Extras 12
Total (9 wickets, 51 overs) 161.

Billy Smith 9 0 34 1, Keiran McCullagh 11 1 40 2, Iain Critchley 18 7 32 5, Gaurav Dhar 13 0 50 1.

Chorley winning draw.