Darwen close in

Chorley were never in the hunt after being put in to bat and once again it was record breaker Andrew Mercer - who now holds the club bowling record - who did the damage with another admirable display of controlled pace bowling.

He captured three quick wickets and professional Keith Semple snapped up the important wicket of Nigel Heaton.

Chorley were on the rack at 9-4 and half the side were out for 25 before captain Jim Fazackerley and professional Stephen John shored up the innings with a stand of 38 for the sixth wicket.

Fazackerley made 30 and John 34, Mercer wrapping up the innings with two more wickets to finish with 5 for 29 from 18 overs.

Semple weighed in with 2 for 28 as Chorley were bowled out for 111. Darwen never looked in trouble in their reply and lost only Mark Hadfield, out without scoring, with the total on 20. Gary Jackson with a very solid 50 not out and Semple, unbeaten with 59, then guided Darwen to 113 and 12 crucial points without further loss.

Semple's most attractive innings contained seven fours and one six.

With Lancaster's last pair denying Morecambe a vital victory in a high-scoring match at Lune Road, Darwen now require a maximum of just seven points from their last two matches to be sure of the title.

CHORLEY 111

DARWEN 113-1

Chorley 0pts, Darwen 12pts

CHORLEY

T Smith c Hadfield b Mercer...0

I Mawdesley b Mercer...2

K Dixon c Hacking b Mercer...0

N Heaton c Mercer b Semple...5

J Fazackerley c Parkinson b Cordingley...30

N Senior lbw Hacking...7

John c Parkinson b Mercer...34

J Hotham c Parkinson b Semple...4

I Oakes run out...17

I Patel c Parkinson b Mercer...2

R Fairhurst not out...0

Extras...10

Total...111

Bowling : A Mercer 18-8-29-5; Semple 16-7-28-2; J Hacking 8-2-24-1; G Cordingley 7.3-1-20-1.

DARWEN 113-1

M Hadfield b Patel...0

G Jackson not out...50

Semple not out ...59

Extras...4

Total (1 wkt)...113

Bowling : I Patel 5-2-16-1; T Smith 4-0-29-0; John 7-0-33-0; I Oakes 5-1-18-0; R Fairhurst 4.4-0-14-0