LEIGH CC's highly-anticipated derby match with Wigan turned out to be a bit of a dour affair with the match ending in a draw.

Batting first, it was Andy Batterley who, once again, led from the front. He ignored the loss of Tim McKiernan and Dave Dove to play positively before he was third out having made 55 of Leigh's 68 runs.

His innings came from 69 balls and included seven 4s and a 6.

Steve Bailey made 22 as the score moved to 120 but with 35 overs gone, Leigh were looking to their powerful middle order to push the scoring along.

Gareth Cross and Andy Mullaney duly obliged by adding 75 in just 10 overs before Mullaney was bowled by Bradshaw for 34, his innings coming from just 27 balls and including four 4s and two 6s.

Cross reached a deserved 50 from just 68 balls and had moved on to 71 before being Leigh's six wicket to fall having hammered seven 4s and two 6s.

Pushed hard

The momentum continued as Leigh pushed hard towards a declaration. Iqbal Sikander and Ronnie Davis ended up unbeaten on 11 and 16 respectively as skipper Bailey declared on 227-6 from 49 overs.

No Wigan bowler picked up more than one wicket, with Graham Bolton being the pick before retiring hurt.

Wigan, with 61 overs to play with, opened solidly against Sikander and Davis. With Leigh unable to force the breakthrough, they turned to Colin Smith who changed the game immediately. He had the dangerous Rob Turnbull caught by Justin Pugh and then bowled Coates second ball. Bradshaw and Dawber added only one between them, both falling to Sikander as Wigan wobbled on 34-4.

Wigan's Aussie, Morner, was joined by Taylor and they stayed together for 31 overs and added 115. Leigh tried everything to break the partnership, Bailey even resorting to a couple of overs of his own tossed up deliveries in the hope of inducing an error.

Wigan did have an opportunity to press for victory but they allowed the run rate to escalate to seven an over.

When Morner played across the line to Sikander and was bowled, he left his team in a difficult situation. Wigan's problems increased when Sikander removed the next four batsmen in five overs.

At 178-9 with only three overs remaining, the only question was could Wigan hang on. Fortunately for them Taylor was still there and he was able to take the majority of the bowling to project Spencer at the other end. He finished with an unbeaten 77 as Wigan closed on 179-9 to deny Leigh maximum points.

Remarkable figures

Sikander finished with remarkable figures of 29 overs, 15 maidens, 7-38.

The following day Leigh visited Northern in the first round of the Chelmere Homes Trophy and after deciding to bat first, they lost wickets at regular intervals.

Batterley again showed his quality with a fine 39 from 50 balls. But strangely, Leigh's batsmen all got a start and failed to capitalise with Dove making 13, Cross 12, Mullaney 11 and Bailey nine.

At 97-7 Leigh were in serious trouble but they were indebted to to some fine late order batting to pull them round. Sikander made a fine 26, including one huge six over the clubhouse. Colin Smith only made six but contributed in a partnership of 18 with Dave Potter who went on to make a valuable 21.

Respectability had been restored as Leigh's innings closed on 154 from their 45 overs.

Ronnie Davis put Northern right on the back foot when he removed Morris and Haddon with only seven runs on the board.

Northern's Australian, Ezquerro, was joined by Dutton and they slowly began to repair the damage. But when Ezquerro was brilliantly slumped by Cross off Potter, Leigh were back in the driving seat. Their position was further strengthened when Potter struck twice further and Mullaney removed Northern's last main batsman, Dutton for 19.

Nipped out

At 62-7 Bailey re-introduced Davis and he quickly nipped out two more to finish with figures of 4-19 as Leigh won by 63 runs.

Smith (0-11), Sikander (1-10) and Mullaney (1-6) all bowled well but it was Potter (3-34) and Davis who were the main destroyers.

Leigh also progressed in to the next round of the Liverpool Echo Evening KO Competition in an amazing match against Highfield last Friday.

In a match reduced to 15 overs a side because of bad weather, Leigh made a remarkable 203-5. Dove led the way with 61 from 33 balls with other contributions coming from Batterley (21), Sikander (42), Cross (28) but most amazing of all was Davis' 35 from just 10 balls.

Highfield were never in the race but made a valiant effort to reach 133 as Leigh used seven bowlers.

Tomorrow Leigh are away to Ormskirk in the league while the following day they are away to Walkden in the National Knockout, the winners progressing to the regional final.