Ex-Test spinners have Leigh in a tangle

There was little sign of the mayhem to come as Steve Mullaney and Dave Dove figured in another impressive opening partnership worth 69.

Mullaney was first out caught behind off Khan for 35 and Rees and Cross both went cheaply as the score passed 100. It was not until Dove was fourth man out at 109, caught on the boundary at backward square leg, that the innings completely fell apart.

Dove had once again looked like his old confident self right from the first ball he faced which was firmly dispatched to the boundary. His dismissal for 42 started a procession of departing batsmen as Khan took complete control and Schofield found his touch after six expensive overs.

Khan finished with bowling figures of 15 overs 8 maidens 17 runs 6 wickets, his last five wickets being taken at a cost of only 3 runs in 10 overs. With Schofield claiming 4 for 43, Leigh were rapidly dismissed for 128, a score that included 20 extras.

Schofield, batting at number three, then continued to display his all round talents as he raced to 87 not out off 71 balls including 4 sixes and 9 fours and powerfully dealt with any loose deliveries. The bowlers were unable to contain him and one over from Zammit cost 19 runs as he cut loose.

Although wickets fell at regular intervals, Schofield guided his side to a 5 wicket victory off only 28.2 overs winning the game with a six. Only Ronnie Davis of the Leigh bowlers, with 1 for 24 off 10 overs, managed to keep a check on the scoring rate.

Leigh's indifferent weekend continued at Maghull on Bank Holiday Monday where they had to settle for a disappointing draw.

Leigh had asked Maghull to bat first after winning the toss and their bowlers tied down the opposition batsmen to 81 for 5 off 39 overs with opener White requiring 94 balls to score 32.

Plumbley (35) and Greene (44) rescued their side with a partnership of 79 for the sixth wicket and Maghull batted on after the tea break before declaring at 181 for 9 off 62.2 overs. Paul Vallance again bowled well to take 2 for 16 off 12 overs and Liam Zammit took the last three wickets to finish with 4 for 41.

Mullaney and Dove scored 15 each to help take Leigh's total to 52 for 2 and Rees (39) batted impressively before being third man out at 93. Only Cross (35) and Davis (19) of the other batsmen made significant contributions against some dangerous bowling and at 145 for 8 with 5 overs left defeat looked likely.

But Jennings (16 not out) and Melia held out successfully to earn their side a draw with a total of 159 for 8. Maghull's opening bowler Swires always looked lively as he claimed 5 for 43.

Leigh's next game is away against old rivals Wallasey and a much improved performanceis needed.

Seconds hit top

WINNING an important toss, Leigh seconds elected to bowl at Wallasey and a good opening spell of bowling from Dave Potter and Craig Wilson reduced the batting side to 40-1 from 12 overs.

Introduced into the attack were Adam Roussak and James Eccleshare, taking 1-37 and 2-65 respectively. Reaching 177-3 Wallasey were restricted in their run-scoring by Wilson, who was brought back to bowl and reduced the home side to 218-8 declared.

Leigh began their innings slowly, but soon reached the required run rate when Beg produced a masterful display of batting, hitting several boundaries.

Alongside Beg, Carty provided a further 26 runs and allowed Leigh to settle on 158-5 after 35 overs, providing a steady base to chase the Wallasey total. Dave Potter added a fine 59 to the Leigh total, sending the ball to all ends of the park and front gardens of the surrounding houses. Leigh were left requiring 40 runs off five overs.

Youngsters Adam Roussak (25 no) and debutant Gavin Brennan (11no) assured victory for the Leigh side, who scored the required single off the last ball of the match.

The bank holiday Monday fixture provided another enthralling match at Beech Walk.

Maghull batted first on what seemed a bowler friendly pitch. A rather long and at times tiresome innings saw Maghull reach 240-6 off 55 overs.

Beg was the most economical bowler for Leigh who took the wickets required and at a time where the run rate was far higher than Leigh had previously anticipated.

Requiring 241 runs for victory, Leigh began their reply in with an onslaught. Despite the loss of Wilson (56), Leigh maintained the run rate that was required for victory. At 111-3, Craig Fletcher joined Beg at the crease. The pair added a further 60 runs before Beg (41) was caught at square leg. A marvellous run chase was resolved after 37 overs when Leigh reached their target with four overs remaining, with captain Steve Whalley finishing on 23 no and Craig Fletcher on a magnificent 86no.

The weekend's victories raise Leigh to an unprecedented joint top place in the Premier League, leaving them in good stead for the fixture at Beech Walk against fellow championship contenders Bootle this weekend.

Roussack's magnificent seven

PUT in to bat by Orrell RT, Leigh Thirds timed their innings to perfection by scoring 180 in 44 overs allowing them to declare after taking the four batting points on offer.

Nick Jones, and the back in-form Paul Blackburn, put on a partnership of 67 before Jones was bowled attempting to raise the momentum.

Blackburn was joined by Will Banner who played an innings of some class. His early shots in particular showed the promise he has threatened to offer for some time. He ended on 30 not out at the close of the innings.

In reply it could be said that Orrell got off to a bit of a flier taking 62 off the first ten overs. But during this opening passage of play both opening bowlers, Ross Shepherd and Kieran Grundy, had missed opportunities. Shepherd in particular bowled with more pace than usual and found the edge on many occasions but unfortunately on these occasions the ball somehow managed to find it's way to the boundary.

Leigh took the pace off the ball by introducing spin twins Banner and Alex Roussak. Roussak is in the form of his life and once again produced outstanding figures of 7 wickets for 55 with an opportunity of a hat-trick going begging with a very difficult chance at backward square leg. Banner bowled well but didn't have the luck having had four chances put down off his bowling.

Orrell were eventually bowled out falling short by 33 runs after a cameo from their captain Neil Rooney who hammered 26 in a last ditch effort.

Fourths beaten in thriller

LEIGH Fourths suffered their third defeat of the season in a close game that kept the Beech Walk crowd entertained with a nail-biting finish.

The home side took the positive decision to bat first after winning the toss, with Rob Clews and Stuart McLean putting on 57 for the first wicket, and then McLean and Craig Fletcher adding a further 30 for the second. The departure of the top three batsmen (Clews 25, McLean 15 and Fletcher 38) unfortunately brought about a major collapse, with the score going from 107 for 2 to 107 for 5.

Despite some painstaking resistance from Bradley Houghton and Phil Edwards, the Leigh lower order was unable to withstand Lytham's returning bowlers, as Leigh slumped to 144 all out.

With Clews taking over as skipper due to a leg injury to Phil Edwards, Lytham started brightly, amassing 52 for the first wicket, but once again Leigh's young bowlers stuck to their task and started to take wickets steadily.

Two wickets for Gavin Brennan, two for Mattie McKiernan from a superb 8 over spell, and three more for Tim Edwards saw Leigh exert a stranglehold which looked like it had turned the game the home side's way. However, despite the loss of eight wickets, it was Lytham's young wicketkeeper Bell who finally won the game for the visitors with a well-made undefeated 35, with just four overs remaining.

Unfortunately another defeat, but no disgrace for this side who seem to specialise in close games, and who gave everything in the field in trying to secure their first win, which must undoubtedly come before too long.

Mullaney

blasts

136 no

LEIGH U17s first league fixture of the season proved to be a one-sided, entertaining affair.

A Newton spectator was quoted as saying " If we get Mullaney early we will win this."

Unfortunately for Newton this did not happen, Mullaney caused havoc, not only on the field but off it as well, all car owners praying that their vehicle was not the next victim.

The first over of Leigh's innings was a maiden but the next 19 overs went at an average of 11 per over.

Leigh's opening partnership realised 123, in under 13 overs between Steve Mullaney and Neil Williams was a stunning spectacle. No bowler's figures or spectators were safe. Neil Williams was eventually out for 43 included 5 4's and shots all round the wicket. Gavin Brennan soon followed for a single with the score on 131.

Adam Roussak joined Steve Mullaney and batted through to the end of the 20 overs the pair adding 70, Roussak's contribution being 8, Mullaney walked off the field with 136 not out, including 12 4's and 10 sixes, and at the last count 3 vehicles, plus many more close shaves. His innings was an awesome display of shots all around the wicket, the car park and Beech Walk. Leigh's innings realised 201-2. The best Newton bowler being David Fearnley with 1-36 from his 5 overs.

Newton were always behind the clock, and in their 20 overs amassed 91-7, only Patterson and Horsefield getting amongst the runs with 30 and 22 respectively. Wickets were shared between Adam Roussak 2-6, Tim Edwards 1-8, Ross Shepherd 1-10 and usual wicketkeeper captain Neil Williams, obviously playing for fantasy points, 1-2. 2 run outs accounted for the Newton batsman, one a good pick up and throw by Graeme Thomason and the other a suicidal last ball scramble accounting for Fearnley.

lLEIGH U15s had a comprehensive win over Highfield.

A superb opening spell by Ross Shepherd and Kieran Grundy saw Highfield reduced to 9 for 4 inside 6 overs. Although a brief recovery was started, taking the score to 47 for 4 in the 14th over, this was short-lived as two wickets in an over from Alex Roussak, plus two more from Andrew Thomason in the next, were followed by Alex's third and a run out, leaving the home side 55 all out from 17 overs.

Despite losing Michael Waywell in the first over, Leigh were never really troubled as victory was secured by Alex Roussak (27 not out) and Andrew Thomason (21 not out) in the 11th over.