PAKISTAN past and present went head-to-head as Leigh CC took on Northrop Hall on Saturday.

Current Pakistan international, Mushtaq Ahmed, was the one who ended the day smiling as his team overcame Iqbal Sikander's side by four wickets.

When Leigh took first knock, Andy Batterley was not fazed by facing an international bowler and hoisted Mushtaq for a huge six in his first over.

Batterley and opening partner Tim McKiernan both looked comfortable and took the score to 30 before McKiernan was adjudged to be caught close to the wicket for seven.

Dave Dove joined Batterley and played cautiously to take the score to 52 before Batterley became Mushtaq's second victim for a well made 30.

Leigh failed in the middle of the innings and wickets fell at regular intervals. Only Dove, with a patient 12, Gareth Cross with 15 and Ronnie Davis with an unbeaten 18 made double figures as Leigh collapsed to 121 all out in the 51st over.

Jenkins took 2-25 but it was Mushtaq with 6-52 from 25 overs that did the real damage.

In reply, Davis and Sikander struck early as Leigh reduced the hosts to 34-3 and make the contest wide open.

But it was now Mushtaq with the bat who tormented Leigh. He made a fluent 45 before Chris Melia had him caught at slip in his first over. Sikander took two further wickets to reduce Northrop Hall to 105-6 and gave Leigh a glimmer of hope. Sparks and Powell struck out and a mixture of good hitting and good fortune saw Northrop Hall past the winning posts.

Different story

Like the previous weekend, Sunday proved to be a completely different story as Leigh marched on in the Lancashire Cup.

Although posting a total of only 122, they defended their modest total brilliantly to see off Darwen.

On a wicket favouring the bowlers, Leigh were indebted to a fluent opening from Batterley who made 27 from just 26 balls. But once again a flurry of wickets had Leigh reeling at 46-5.

Skipper Steve Bailey, returning after a broken finger, showed little rustiness as he played shots all round the wicket, making 42 from 62 balls.

Cross and Davis both got into double figures but Leigh were desperately disappointed to be bowled out for 122.

Colin Smith and Davis both bowled tidily but without making a breakthrough. Andy Mullaney entered the attack and revoved Jackson with his first ball. His over proved expensive, however, as Semple took 14 off his next five balls.

Sikander then bowled Semple middle stump round his legs. The next threat came from the three Cordingley brothers. Potter sent two back for single figure scores but it was Sikander, in his penultimate over, who got rid of the main batsman G.Cordingley.

With the game thrillingly poised at 91-6 with 12 overs left, four consecutive maidens left the run rate at more than four an over. Davis was edged for four in his final over but still had remarkable figures of 1-13 from eight. Sikander had also bowled out, finishing with 2-13 from eight. so Bailey turned to McKiernan.

His faith was rewarded as he proceded to take three wickets in two overs without conceding a run to send Leigh into the next round against Netherfield.

Tomorrow Leigh are away at Wallasey, wickets piched at 1pm.

rThe Under 13s take on Newton-le-Willows in a cup final at Beech Walk on Monday, starting at 6.15pm.

rLeigh Ladies came out on top again when they met Highfield for a second time.

Having restricted the visitors to 84 off their 20 overs, thanks to a couple of wickets from Judith Jones and Jess Brett with another, Leigh knocked off the runs with three overs to spare to win by seven wickets.

Shelia McKiernan made a fine 18 but it was a splendid third wicket stand between Debbie Dove (29) and Maria Fallon (17), which saw Leigh to victory.