3:54pm Tuesday 20th July 2010
Chorley had to hang on for a draw on the day of their centenary dinner as they played second fiddle to Fleetwood at Windsor Park.
Fleetwood’s Aussie pro Matt Frith stepped down as skipper in midweek and took his frustrations out on the Chorley bowlers as he made 97 to lead his side towards a decent total of 215-7.
Chorley professional JJ Smuts was playing his final home game for the club before heading off to play for the South African Emerging Players against Australia.
And he may well depart with Chorley’s batting record as his 26 saw him stand just seven short of the mark set by New Zealander Stuart Duff 23 years ago.
Smut, who claimed 4-59, will get one last chance to top that mark at Lancaster next week - but his departure from the crease on Saturday was a hammer blow to his side’s hopes of a win.
In the end Michael Critchley dug in for 47 from 84 balls as Chorley hung on at 149-9.
M Clark ct Catterall b Smith 25
Frith st Weetman b Smuts 97
D Bell ct Smith b Smuts 17
C Stanhope ct Smith b Smuts 23
M Wilkinson ct Smuts b Eastham 1
R Smith run out 28
A Sharrocks Not Out 10
T Wilson st Weetman b Smuts 4
Extras 10
Total (7 wickets, 50 overs) 215
B Smith 14 2 61 1, J Lee 6 1 22 0, Smuts 19 3 59 4, R Flood 5 0 21 0, N Eastham 6 0 44 1.
Smuts b Frith 26
J Catterall ct Bell b Clinning 23
J Reynard LBW Wilkinson 9
W Moulton ct Stanhope b Wilkinson 3
M Critchley Not Out 47
A Holdsworth ct Bell b Smith 15
A Weetman ct Smith b Bell 0
N Eastham run out 0
R Flood ct Stanhope b Smith 5
B Smith b Bell 5
J Lee Not Out 0
Extras 16
Total (9 wickets, 50 overs) 149
R Smith 10 3 41 2, S Bell 14 4 34 2, Frith 10 3 20 1, M Clinning 11 2 32 1, M Wilkinson 5 1 12 2 0 0.
Winning draw to Fleetwood.
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