CHORLEY dug deep to earn an opening day draw at much fancied St Annes as hometown pro Gaurav Dhar opened up with a high five.

The Windsor Park product and former MCC Young Professional, claimed 5-98 as Chorley started well at Windsor Park.

Club coach and spin partner Iain Critchley claimed 3-58 and Jim Lee picked up the other two wickets as the locals bowled a normally free scoring home side to 205 all out with two balls to spare on a good track.

Nathan Armstrong was top scorer with 39 and sub pro Fahad Masood made 38, while former Clitheroe man Ben Dowling smashed a late 20 to get St Annes over the 200 mark.

Openers Andy Holdsworth and Jack Catterall gave Chorley a fine start with an opening stand of 92, both making 41.

But Masood took 4-63 and Atiq uz-Zaman 3-27 as Chorley slumped to 137-7.

Stu Naden retired hurt in the 32nd over after a blow to the helmet but returned and made 24.

A battling unbeaten 42 off 49 balls by Ian Oakes helped Chorley salvage a draw at 190-9, last man Lee surviving six balls.

St Annes
A uz-Zaman c Naden b Critchley 29
N Kiruparan b Lee 4
C Boucher b Lee 20
N Armstrong c Naden b Dhar 39
Masood c Oakes b Dhar 38
R Bradley b Critchley 2
N Bradley c Bentham b Critchley 17
D Whalley c Moulton b Dhar 25
N Bolus b Dhar 9
B Dowling c Catterall b Dhar 20
M Grindley Not Out 1
Extras 1
Total (all out , 49.4 overs) 205. B Smith 9 3 12 0, J Lee 5 0 36 2, Dhar 19.4 1 98 5, I Critchley 16 2 58 3.

Chorley J Catterall b uz-Zaman 41
A Holdsworth b Bolus 41
S Naden c Boucher b uz-Zaman 24
I Critchley b Masood 0
Dhar LBW Masood 0
W Moulton c Boucher b Masood 0
S Tolley c Whalley b uz-Zaman 2
I Oakes Not Out 42
J Bentham c Whalley b Grindley 17
B Smith c Boucher b Masood 5
J Lee Not Out 0
Extras 18
Total (9 wickets, 50 overs) 190. Masood 21 4 63 4, B Dowling 9 1 56 0, M Grindley 6 1 14 1, N Bolus 4 0 18 1, A uz-Zaman 10 2 27 3 0 0.

St Annes winning draw/