LEIGH CC provided some silverware for a second successive season by retaining the Liverpool ECB Premier League Competition with a comprehensive victory over Wallasey.

Batting first, Leigh built a solid foundation and took the score to 60-2 off the first 20 overs. But when Andy Mullaney was out having made a fine 28, it sparked a collapse which saw Leigh slump to 85-6.

Enter skipper Steve Bailey and young Steven Mullaney. Together they put on a wonderful partnership to rattle the score on to 156. On that score their enthusiasm got the better of them, Bailey run out contemplating a fourth run into the outfield, but his score of 33 had got Leigh back into the game.

Mullaney was also soon run out but his knock of 26 was vital in the circumstances. When McKiernan was bowled, Leigh's final pair of Colin Smith and Dave Potter had four overs left. Both batted wisely, picking up 15 runs to take Leigh's total to 182.

Leigh replied with a miserly spell from both Smith and Steve Mullaney, Mullaney having the bonus of taking Luxon's wicket with the first ball he faced.

Magnificent delivery

Ronnie Davis took a wicket in his first over and Wallasey were struggling. Dangerman Reid took the score to 72-2 before he was undone by a magnificent leg break delivery from Sikander.

Leigh never took their foot off the pedal from that point and when Davis returned for his second spell he virtually clinched victory with two more wickets to give him match figures of 3-8.

Sikander duly obliged by wrapping up the Wallasey innings with their total on exactly 100. He finished with 3-16 but it was fitting that 14-year-old Steve Mullaney should get the man of the match award for his 3-34 and innings of 26.

With minds perhaps on the final, Leigh were beaten by Sefton the previous day. Steve Mullaney had 3-34 and Sikander 4-97, one of which was his 100th league wicket of the year, as Sefton made 233. In reply Leigh were all out for 155 despite Bailey's 63 and Andy Mullaney's 33.

The weekend was also memorable for Leigh's second X1 who were promoted to the Premier League at the first time of asking. Nigel Hallows made 76 and John Sodhi 33 in Leigh's 181-4 declared. Greg Jennings took 3-20 and skipper Graham Duddle 4-19 saw the visitors all out for 64.

On Saturday Leigh complete their fixtures with a home game against Northop Hall. The match is sponsored by Ian's Property Services.