CLASSY Chorley won the Northern League’s big fixture as they shot themselves into third place in the table thanks to an outstanding win over Netherfield.

Chorley’s win was outstanding the 15 points collected from the Windsor Park success saw them surpass last season’s points total with more than half of the season to go.

Player-coach and slow left-armer Iain Critchley claimed 5-21 off 16 overs as Netherfield collapsed from 78-2 to 139 all out.

Pro Gaurav Dhar took the wickets of John Huck and Ben Barrow in consecutive balls, Huck having top-scored with 45 off 73 balls.

Last man Stuart Nixon fell to a fine catch in the outfield by Jack Bentham off Dhar for 15 with 4.3 overs left.

Netherfield lost two early wickets as Marc Brown was run out by Ian Oakes’ direct hit and Alex Atkinson was trapped by Kieran McCullagh, but Ben Haddrick and Huck appeared to be setting up a win until Haddrick was adjudged leg before to Critchley, sparking the tumble of wickets.

Earlier Netherfield’s new Australian pro Ben Laughlin captured the wicket of Stu Naden with his fifth ball in Northern League cricket to a smartly taken caught-and-bowled.

The One Day International from Queensland went on to take 3-55 off 17 overs.

Chorley captain Holdsworth made 34 until he miscued a pull shot against Laughlin and was caught by Chris Parry.

Chorley slumped to 113-7 but Iain Critchley (34) and teenager Alex Weetman (31) provided vital late resistance, their stand of 53 ultimately proving crucial as they got up to 174-9.

Chorley

A Holdsworth ct Parry b Laughlin 34
S Naden ct and b Laughlin 0
M Critchley ct Huck b Nixon 14
W Moulton ct Laughlin b Mason 25
J Bentham run out 15
Dhar LBW Chambers 3
I Critchley ct Parry b Laughlin 34
I Oakes ct Brown b Chambers 3
A Weetman run out 31
K McCullagh Not Out 1
B Smith Not Out 0
Extras 14
Total (9 wickets, 50 overs) 174.

Laughlin 17 2 55 3, S Nixon 10 2 29 1, J Mason 10 2 35 1, N Chambers 13 1 43 2.

Netherfield

M Brown run out 3
B Haddrick LBW I Critchley 35
A Atkinson LBW McCullagh 8
J Huck b Dhar 45
J Mason LBW I Critchley 0
Laughlin b I Critchley 8
B Barrow LBW Dhar 0
C Parry ct Holdsworth b I Critchley 6
N Chambers b I Critchley 0
S Dixon Not Out 6
S Nixon ct Bentham b Dhar 15
Extras 12
Total (all out, 45.3 overs) 138.

K McCullagh 6 2 16 1, B Smith 6 2 21 0, W Moulton 2 0 17 0, I Critchley 16 6 21 5, Dhar 15.3 1 51 3.

Chorley won by 36 runs. Chorley 15 points, Netherfield 3 points.