CRICKET - Central Lancashire League

Chasing 229 for victory, Unsworth romped home with six wickets and more than ten overs to spare to serve notice to the rest of the league of their undoubted title credentials.

Revelling in the talent at his disposal, Unsworth skipper Paul Entwistle said: "It was a great win and we won comfortably chasing a difficult score."

The win was manufactured by stand-in South African professional Ian Mitchell and his compatriot John Paul Hean.

Mitchell grabbed 6-82 and smashed an unbeaten 93 after replacing the injured Robbie MacQueen on the morning of the game, with Hean stroking a majestic 100.

Norden were indebted to another century from Pakistani paid man Asif Mujtaba as he racked up 105 with the willow.

However, Mujtaba received very little support as wickets tumbled around him before Alex Tattersall's half-century helped push the home side's total to 228-9.

Unsworth's reply was emphatic in the least.

Opener Paul Manley was sent back for just four runs by Mujtaba but this just brought the twin talents of Hean and Mitchell together.

Between them, they pushed their side aggressively towards victory before Hean fell with the finishing line in sight.

However, skipper Entwistle was left at the crease to complete the win alongside the highest run scorer in the league.

Meanwhile, RADCLIFFE were finally beaten by Mother Nature as they failed by a single wicket to deliver the knockout blow of a prized fighter to Milnrow's faltering innings.

Having reduced their fiesty opponents to 102-9, chasing 126 for victory, the heavens opened and dampened Radcliffe's victory charge.

And, skipper Graeme Simpson was understandably disappointed with the inclement intervention: "We are very disappointed not to win but you can't beat the weather."

Radcliffe elected to bat first on a pitch that held some demons and soon lost opener Phil Hayes (6).

However, experienced hands Bruce Cruse (26) and Pasan Wanansinghe (27) steadied the ship with some stubborn play.

Both were removed in quick succession and the middle order put up little resistance against some accurate bowling.

The revolving door of the Radcliffe dressing room was given brief respite when Tody McLean (19) and Gaz Nicholson (18) played valuable cameos to help the Racecourse side to 125 all out.

Milnrow professional Wade Wingfield (2-36) chipped in to help fellow strike men Jon (4-50) and Lee Storey (3-36) finish the job.

Milnrow set about their chase with relish and were relatively cruising when they reached 30 without loss. However, those Milnrow batsman thinking about putting their feet up were jolted into action when Radcliffe paid man Wanansinghe (5-43) ripped through the Rochdale side's batting.

Fellow seamers Hayes (1-20), McLean (2-20) and Steve Cheetham (1-10) also got in on the act but Milnrow refused to lie down and the last two wickets put on 32 before the players were forced off with fifteen overs remaining in the game.

And, it has taken eleven games in coming but STAND finally registered their first of the Central Lancashire League table in a nerve-wracking finish at Middleton.

In a thrilling contest, Middleton needed six to win from the final six balls with two wickets remaining but paceman Eddie Shah stepped up to wrap up a one-run win.

The visitors batted first and were indebted to three main contributions from professional John Seedle (42), Dave Wright (23) and Gary Bond (23).

No other batsman reached double figures in the final total of 141; with Nigel Doyle destroying the middle order on his way to fine figures of 5-25 in under ten overs.

The Moonrakers got off to a solid start but, when both openers were ripped out by former Radcliffe seamer Shah, they looked up against it.

Solid, if unspectacular contributions right down the order edged the home side towards victory before Shah came to the fore.

Shah was ably assisted by Jack Ritchie (2-44) and paid man Seedle (3-36) as the victory celebrations started.