Chorley off to a flyer in Twenty/20 Cup

7:19pm Tuesday 24th June 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Chorley got their Thwaites Northern Premier Twenty/20 Cup campaign off to a flying start with a four-wicket victory over reigning champions Darwen.

South African professional Friedel de Wet put in another good performance to help restrict the home side to 108.

The pace bowler had taken a four wicket haul for Lancashire 2nd XI against Durham earlier in the week and soon tore in to the Darwen side to remove Chris Clarke in his opening over, and shortly afterwards claimed the wicket of professional Atif Ashraf.

John Cordingley hit back for Darwen before he was bowled by Kieran McCullagh while Nigel Eastham finished with figures of three for seven as the home side were all out off the last ball of the innings.

Chorley’s opening pair got off to a good start with Josh Tolley hitting a quick 26 and Eastham 16, but Darwen hit back to leave Chorley on 86- 6 in the 17th over.

Michael Critchley and de Wet then staged a recovery to see Chorley home to victory with eight balls to spare.

Chorley were due to play Leyland away last night.

The other confirmed dates for their Twenty/20 Cup ties are at home on Tuesday July 1 and home to Darwen on Friday July 11. Matches start at 6pm.

Both Chorley's scheduled league match at Kendal on Saturday and their Thwaites Cup match at Fleetwood on Sunday were abandoned due to the weather.

Chorley are at home to Blackpool on Saturday.