THE start of Memorex Leigh CC's match against league champions Ormskirk was delayed for an hour because of the previous evening's downpour.

Ormskirk won the toss and asked Leigh to bat first but any hopes their bowlers had of getting help from the damp wicket were soon dispelled as the Beech Walk batsmen put on another five-star show.

Steven Mullaney was promoted to open the batting and acquitted himself well, scoring a rapid 25 out of a partnership of 50 off 11 overs with Andy Batterley. Batterley was once again in imperious form and was joined by Ronnie Davis who contributed a cultured 20 to a second wicket stand of 86.

Batterley was third man out having scored 80 off 104 balls. He was severe on all Ormskirk's bowlers and even off-spinner David Snellgrove, the opposing captain, who is one of the league's most consistently successful bowlers, had to take himself off without having taken a wicket after being struck for a massive straight six by the rampant Batterley who scored 8 fours and 3 sixes in all.

After the fall of the fourth wicket at 148, Gareth Cross, fresh from a successful debut for Lancashire 2nd XI in midweek, batted with all out aggression to score 22 off 23 balls and Steve Bailey made a breathtaking 26 off 20 balls. Maximum batting points were ensured as Leigh declared at 200-6 off 46.3 overs.

Faced with a now familiar onslaught from Jo Angel and Davis, Ormskirk were in dire trouble after losing their first four wickets for only 18 runs in the first 11 overs.

John Armstrong and Mike Taylor then set about saving the match and batted with great caution in adding 53 for the fifth wicket before Armstrong was caught at square leg for 27 off Batterley, once again proving to be a surprise package as a bowler.

Opening spell

Angel returned to the attack after an opening spell of three wickets for no runs off nine overs and bowled another three maidens before conceding a run. He could make no impression on the obdurate Taylor, however, who faced all but three balls of Angel's last 10 overs.

At the other end, Waterhouse thrived on a succession of bowlers bowling in assorted styles as regular changes to the attack were made in an attempt to force an error. He scored 57 out of a partnership of 62 withTaylor before skying a steepling catch with two overs left.

It was unfortunately too little too late for Leigh who had to settle for a frustating draw with the visitors reaching 135-6.

Angel finished with the remarkable analysis of 19 overs, 16 maidens, five runs and three wickets and the unflappable Taylor used impeccable defensive technique in surviving for 111 balls as he remained undefeated on 28.

Bonus points

Leigh had to settle for six bonus points against Ormskirk's three, a meagre return after completely outplaying their illustrious opponents for virtually the whole of the match. In his last five games, Angel has taken 22 wickets at a cost of only 108 runs off a total of 65.4 overs.

Leigh, lying a comfortable third in the league, have two crunch matches this weekend when they are at home against the star-studded Bootle side who are currently in second place followed by a visit to league leaders Wallasey in the first round of the Chelmere Homes Trophy.