THE highlight of Leigh CC's match against Wallasey was a magnificent century by their young Lancashire 2nd XI star Gareth Cross.

He came in to bat with the score on 45 for 2 after the dismissal of Andy Batterley for 27 and proceeded to hammer the highly experienced Wallasey bowlers in one of the best innings seen at Beech Walk for many years.

He faced 99 balls and scored 5 sixes and 11 fours as he totalled 114 before being caught out on the boundary edge at long on.

Wallasey opening bowler Paul Thistlewaite, who has regularly tortured batsmen throughout the league in recent years, suffered the indignity of being hit for three straight sixes by Cross as he cut loose with an array of powerful shots to all parts of the field.

Cross shared in a partnership of 182 with Dave Dove which was the highest for any wicket for Leigh in over 50 years. Dove also batted superbly in the support role and finished undefeated on 58 as he declared immediately after Cross was out when the score was 227 for 3 after 44.5 overs.

The Leigh bowling was opened by Avi Aware who has been signed as a replacement for Liam Zammit who returned to Australia last week.

Aware plays first class cricket for Goa in India. He bowled a fiery opening spell of 1 for 17 off 10 overs giving opening batsman Mike Beaver a torrid time before bowling him with the second ball of his second over. Ronnie Davis accounted for Pugh and Wilkie and after 8 overs the visitors were in trouble at 27 for 3.

With plenty of overs to go, Zimbabwe star Paul Strang and opener Roger Eagles got their heads down and pulled things round until Eagles was caught off Craig Wilson for 31 with the total on 78.

Phil Luxon then joined Strang and Wallasey's two leading batsmen gradually took control. With 15 overs to go Wallasey needed to score at a run a ball to win the game and, with Aware having to temporarily leave the field soon after starting his second spell due to cramp, the visitors were in with a chance.

Davis returned and had Strang caught out for 59 and, with Dove trying several bowling changes, wickets began to fall regularly with Luxon being caught and bowled by Mullaney for a fine 66 including 11 fours. Cross again showed his versatility by taking 3 for 25 off 5 overs and Leigh were back in with a chance of winning when he took the ninth wicket with one over to go. It was not to be however as Wallasey survived Aware's final over to secure a draw at 199 for 9 after 55 overs.

Leigh tried seven bowlers in all with Davis taking 3 for 48, Aware 1 for 25 and Wilson again bowling well to claim 1 for 23.

Although unhappy not to win the game, Leigh finished with maximum bonus points and now occupy fourth place in the league table. A tough trip to Northern awaits them with every point precious to avoid being sucked back into the relegation dogfight.