9:13am Monday 6th September 2010
By Matt Donlan
CHORLEY had a hand in the destination of the Northern League championship on Saturday as their batsmen dug in at Windsor Park to break the hearts of Barrow.
And their efforts to earn a draw meant Leyland could crack open the champagne after being crowned as kings of the league.
Barrow had to win in order to take the title race into the final week of the season and when they posted 205 all out from their 50 overs they were on course.
England U17s star Liam Livingstone providing the mainstay of their innings with 58 off 111 balls.
Chris D’Leny made 32 from 37 balls as Chorley substitute professional Gaurav Dhar, who is on the MCC Young Professionals squad, wheeled away with his leg-spin to take 6-83 from 19 overs, while Jim Lee claimed 2-56 from 18.
Chorley were reduced to 15-2 after both openers James Reynard and Jack Catterall were sent back and Barrow sensed a winning chance, especally with Chorley’s batting appearing fragile in recent weeks.
But they battled hard and Dhar made 40 off 60 balls and Michael Critchley 21 from just 85 balls.
Will Moulton then hit 45 off 50 balls until he was bowled by Barrow pro Pasan Wanasinghe.
Wanasinghe took 4-26 off 16 overs but the Chorley batsmen were in obdurate mood, skipper Andy Holdsworth and wicket-keeper Alex Weetman frustrating Barrow to salvage a creditable draw at 160-7.
The final five overs of the Chorley innings were relayed ball-by-ball by mobile phone back to Leyland – and when the result came through the champagne corks came off.
G Platten b Smith 20
J Miles b McCullagh 10
Wanasinghe c McCullagh b Dhar 21
L Livingstone c Holdsworth b Lee 58
D Clark lbw b Dhar 18
C D’Leny b Lee 32
G Dawson c Reynard b Dhar 5
I Kermode st Weetman b Dhar 12
R Lightfoot st Weetman b Dhar 3
D Wearing b Dhar 13
G Collins not out 1
Extras 12
Total (all out, 50 ov) 205
Bowling: K McCullagh 7-1-37-1; B Smith 6-1-23-1; Dhar 19-2-83-6; Lee 18-4-56-2.
J Reynard lbw b Dawson 8
J Catterall b Wanasighe 0
Dhar c D’Leny b Dawson 40
M Critchley b Wearing 21
W Moulton b Wanasinghe 45
I Oakes b Wanasinghe 12
K McCullagh lbw b Wanasinghe 1
A Holdsworth not out 5
A Weetman not out 1
Extras 27
Total (7 wickets, 50 overs) 160
Bowling: Wanasinghe 16-4-26-4; G Dawson 11-6-21-2; L Livingstone 9-1-37-0; G Collins 6-1-25-0.
Winning draw to Barrow.
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