A MAJESTIC unbeaten 51 from Nigel Heaton saw Chorley through to the regional final of the National Knockout in a tense finish against local rivals Darwen at Windsor Park yesterday.

A Chorley win had looked a formality earlier in the afternoon as Darwen slumped to 13-5.

Young leg spinner Steve Cooke snapped up three early wickets, all stumped, and Iqbal Patel removed Gareth Cordingley for four in a remarkable opening burst of 9-5-7-2.

A resolute 27 from Jeff Hacking steadied the innings and then tailenders Mark Bennett (25) and Andrew Mercer (23no) completed the salvage operation as the visitors recovered from 55-7 to close on 118-9.

Darwen's lively seam attack made a bold bit to rescue the tie and had Chorley wobbling at 58-4.

Yet nothing unsettled the stylish Heaton, right back to his best after quitting the captaincy.

But with no other Chorley batsman able to dominate the bowling there were only five balls to spare when Ian Mawdsley struck the winning boundary.

For Darwen Neil Cordingley finished with 3-30 and Mercer picked up 2-18.

Chorley will now be away to either Preston or Ribblesdale Wanderers in the area final.

On the Northern Premier League front, Chorley slipped to another disappointing defeat by eight wickets at Netherfield.

Skipper Roland Horridge top scored for Chorley with 31 and Heaton made 21 but the innings petered out tamely at 138, the last four wickets going down for just two runs.

After an opening stand of 87, the league leaders coasted to a 12 points victory, finishing on 139-2.

But Darwen enjoyed more success, maintaining second spot in the League with a crushing six wicket win over Kendal.

Batting first the Cumbrians had progressed slowly to 57-1 but dramatically lost their remaining nine wickets for only 39 runs with Birch Hall teenager Jamie Nicol taking 4-8 runs in a sensational six over spell including the prize wicket of Terry Hunte who top scored with 38.

Darwen recovered from the first ball loss of Horsfield to Kendal pro Veenstra with a fine stand of 68 between Mark Hadfield (21) and professional Keith Semple who was again in majestic form hitting eight fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 58 as Darwen cantered to victory in only 25 overs.