ANDY Holdsworth's Chorley maintained their amazing fight for honours on Saturday as they enjoyed a convincing Northern Premier League win at Fleetwood after restricting the home side to 122-8 in a game reduced to 41 overs.

Chorley, who finished bottom of the pile last season, have been this term’s surprise package and once again showed their style in the game at Broadwater.

Fleetwood were captained by pro Ryan Smith with skipper Mat Clark on best man duties for wicketkeeper Lee Jones’s wedding.

Adam Parker defied the visitors with a high class unbeaten 63 off 97 balls, his seventh 50 of the season.

Billy Smith and pro Gaurav Dhar each took three wickets for Chorley who reached their target for the loss of four wickets with 13 balls remaining. Openers Alex Weetman (29) and Jack Catterall (32) set them on the way with a stand of 68.

Darwen pro Mohammad Zaman Khan produced a fine all round performance but his side had to settle for a winning draw against Morecambe at Birch Hall.

He made 62 off 82 balls in his side’s 145 as Morecambe pro Anwar Ali took 5-33 to take his seasonal tally to 67 wickets with Jono Gates also in form as he captured 4-47.

Morecambe had 33 overs to reach their target in a rain-reduced game but closed on 121-5 despite Khan taking 4-35 off 11 overs. Chris Williams and Ryan Pearson steered the visitors to safety after they had been 73-5.

Leyland gained nine points on leaders St Annes in the race for the championship on a dramatic afternoon.

Defending champions Leyland were frustrated by the last Netherfield pair at Fox Lane but still gained 10 points from a winning draw.

St Annes, meanwhile, went down to neighbours Blackpool by four runs off the penultimate ball of a thrilling, low-scoring game reduced to 25 overs per side.

With three games remaining St Annes (219 points) lead the way from Leyland (210 points) and Chorley (197 points).

Darwen v Morecambe

Darwen
J Cordingley ct Ullah b Ali 1
Zaman Khan ct Welbourne b Gates 62
C Clarke ct Cupit b Ali 7
N Cordingley b Gates 20
G Cordingley b Ali 33
K Anwar b Gates 6
J Clarke run out 0
N Burke ct Williams b Gates 0
M Emery ct Edge b Ali 2
N Jackson b Ali 2
C Wade Not Out 1
Extras 11
Total (all out, 30.5 overs) 145.

Ali 10.5 3 33 5, C Williams 5 0 25 0, J Gates 10 0 47 4, R Cupit 5 0 30 0.

Morecambe
D Welbourne ct Z’an Khan b N C’gley 20
M Woodhead b Zaman Khan 23
I Ullah b Zaman Khan 16
C Williams Not Out 33
Ali LBW Zaman Khan 0
L Edge b Zaman Khan 1
R Pearson Not Out 22
Extras 6
Total (5 wickets, 33 overs) 121.

K Anwar 6 0 18 0, N Cordingley 8 0 31 1, Zaman Khan 11 2 35 4, C Wade 4 2 7 0, N Burke 1 0 4 0, J Cordingley 3 0 21 0.

Darwen winning draw. Darwen 6pts Morecambe 4pts.

Fleetwood v Chorley

Fleetwood
D Bell b Smith 23
W Clarke b Smith 5
A Parker Not Out 63
S Wright ct Holdsworth b Smith 3
M Clinning LBW Dhar 2
J Bell ct Smith b Dhar 1
R Smith st Mi Critchley b I Critchley 3
S Richardson LBW Dhar 2
K McGann b I Critchley 5
S Bell Not Out 5
Extras 10
Total (8 wickets, 41 overs) 122.

K McCullagh 9 3 25 0, B Smith 12 5 34 3, Dhar 12 4 29 3, I Critchley 8 0 30 2.

Chorley
A Weetman ct Clarke b Bell 29
J Catterall LBW Clinning 32
Dhar ct McGann b Parker 26
W Moulton ct Bell b Clinning 0
J Bentham Not Out 17
I Critchley Not Out 6
Extras 13
Total (4 wickets, 38.5 overs) 123.

Smith 3 0 20 0, S Bell 3 0 11 0, K McGann 4 2 12 0, A Parker 9.5 3 23 1, J Bell 9 0 26 1, M Clinning 10 3 24 2.

Chorley won by 6 wickets. Chorley 12pts Fleetwood (0pts).