LEIGH approached this game looking for their first win, having drawn one and lost one of their first two matches.

After losing the toss and being invited to bat, skipper and makeshift opener Phil Edwards took to the crease with Rob Clews, neither quite certain what to expect from a wicket that looked in good condition after the rain which had forced the previous day's abandonment, but which also showed one or two damp patches.

The pair shared an opening stand of 49 before Edwards, who had played the supporting role was caught for a painstaking three. Clews, who had taken the attack to Lytham almost from the start, was joined by Will Banner who provided him with further solid support, and when Clews was caught in the 22nd over for a swashbuckling 62 from 62 balls with the score on 70, Leigh looked to have a good base from which to build the second half of their innings.

However, the middle order struggled to push the score along, against some tight bowling and fielding, and though all spent good time at the crease the early momentum was not continued, showing the value of Clews' innings.

The scoring rate picked up when Stuart McLean (18) was joined by Graeme Thomason (23), this pair putting on 27 in only 4 overs. The latter's dismissal saw the score reach 150, leaving the remaining batsmen to take the score to 166 for 9 declared after 52 overs.

This left Lytham with a target estimated at just under four an over, but Leigh got off to a good start with the early wicket of Little, and good opening spells of bowling from Graeme Thomason and Andrew Potter, Potter's figures of 5 overs, 4 maidens, 1 for 7 being particularly miserly.

The visitors started the last 20 overs needing 93 to win, with 8 wickets still in hand, but the introduction of Alex Roussak into the attack seemed to turn the tide in Leigh's favour, as Lytham slumped from 74 for 2 to 86 for 6 in the next 5 overs, the batsmen seemingly unable to play the young leg spinner.

However, determined hitting by Lytham's Openshaw saw their target once more within reach, leaving the match finely balanced as Lytham needed 24 from the last four overs with Leigh needing three wickets. In the event, only 7 runs came from these overs as Thomason and Roussak turned the screw, leaving Lytham on 150 for 7 and a drawn game.

Credit goes to Alex Roussak for his spell of 12 overs, taking 3 for 23, but with good support from his teammates and in particular wicketkeeper Clews whose effervescence kept both batsmen and fielders on their toes throughout.