St Annes 133 all out Chorley 104 all out

ST ANNES extracted a modicum of revenge for Saturday's League defeat by Chorley when they vanquished the same side in a Thwaites Smooth Beer Cup tie at Vernon Road on Sunday, writes Gerry Wolstenholme.

On a slow track that made fast scoring difficult, St Annes won the toss, batted and could manage only 133 all out in 44 of their 45 overs.

At one point no boundaries were scored for 21 overs and one spectator was heard to remark: "I painted my garage doors this morning, I could have stayed at home to watch them dry!" But Chorley found run-making just as difficult and they in turn were bowled out for 104 to lose by 29 runs.

After Gareth Evans had gone for nought, bowled by Stephen John in the third over, Jack Kelliher made 25 before he fell to a catch at gully by John off Ian Mawdsley. Geoff Love, 21, and Stephen Twist, seven, struggled to take the total to 59 at which point both were dismissed. Love was caught at extra cover by Dave Catterall off Ian Oakes and Twist was caught behind by Jack Catterall off Iqbal Patel.

The total had advanced to only 73 in the 30th over when Adrian Darlington was caught by Andy Harty off Oakes for seven, and two overs and 10 runs later Joe Davies became the sixth St Annes wicket to fall. He too was an Oakes victim as Yardley caught him in the deep for five.

Sean Bickerdike made three before succumbing to a catch at backward point by John off Oakes who then had Adam Taylor caught behind to finish with the impressive figures of 5-33 from his nine overs.

In between top scorer Russ Bradley, 31 from 43 balls with one six and three fours, was caught at long off by Nigel Heaton off Robert Fairhurst. And when Patel bowled Duncan Whalley for seven, Roger Banks remained 14 not out and St Annes were all out for 133.

It was a small total to defend but it looked like a mountain to climb for Chorley when they quickly became 22-3. Joe Davies took all three wickets in a hostile opening spell. He caught and bowled Jim Fazackerley for one, bowled Jack Catterall for nought and then had Mawdsley caught by Bradley for five.

John made seven before he was caught behind by Whalley off Banks and then the decisive wicket fell. Nigel Heaton had made 49 with eight fours, but his 67th ball beat his forward defensive push and he was bowled by Love. That was 78-5 and Chorley never recovered.

Love bowled magnificently and had Patel caught by Kelliher for three and Fairhurst leg before wicket for one to finish with 3-14. Darlington chipped in with the wickets of Dave Catterall, leg before wicket for 12, and Matt Yardley, caught by Whalley without scoring, to finish with 2-13. And when Andy Harty was run out for nought, Man-of-the-Match Ian Oakes was 16 not out as Chorley crashed to 104 all out and defeat by 29 runs.

It was role reversal on Sunday for St Annes and Blackpool for while the Saints were winning, Blackpool lost at Leyland in the same competition. Leyland batted first and scored a massive 256-7 with Pieter Kootzen scoring 98 and Vahaluwala making 60. Blackpool made a valiant effort to overhaul this total but fell 20 runs short at 236-7. Chris Barrow, promoted to open the innings, smashed a fine 72 and there was 35 from stand-in professional John Harvey, 38 from skipper Mark Lomas and 33 not out from Richard Lamb. But in the end it was just not quite enough.