ST ANNES enjoyed their second victory in three days in the Vaux Northern League on Monday (Aug 30), scoring 146-2 against Leyland's total of 144.

Russ Bradley won the toss and put Leyland in to bat. The decision appeared to have misfired on him when Ian McDonnell and Leyland professional Neil Rimmer put on 54 for the first wicket before the former was caught behind by Duncan Whalley off Dave Taylor for 28.

The home side's second wicket fell at 68 when Mark Swan was caught by Dave Callaghan off Sean Bickerdike for eleven.

Six runs later Neil Kenyon was dismissed in identical fashion without troubling the scores.

Neil Rimmer was bowled by Sean Bickerdike for 36 which left Leyland 81-4.

Mark Pallett and Paul Haydock redressed the balance with a fifth wicket partnership of 31 before the latter was bowled in Dave Callaghan's second spell for 13.

Leyland's last 5 wickets were taken for only 27 runs as they were dismissed in the 49th over for 144.

Sean Bickerdike took his second bag of five wickets in 48 hours.

He took 5-44 from 14 overs, while Dave Callaghan bowled very economically to take 3-39 from 20 overs. The St Annes reply started disasterously when both openers, Adrian Darlington and Andy Kellett, were back in the picture with only two runs on the board.

Nevertheless, Dave Callaghan and Steven Twist started to dominate the proceedings.

They featured in an unbroken third wicket partnership of 144 in 177 minutes off 192 balls to win the game.

Callaghan was undefeated with 74 and Twist with 65.

The former batted 129 minutes, faced 104 balls and hit one six and 6 fours. Twist batted 117 minutes faced 102 balls and hit 9 fours.

Saturday's match at Vernon Road (Sept 4) sees the battle of the titans when St Annes play hosts to league leaders Darwen.

With only two games remaining in the cricket season Darwen are nine points clear of St Annes, so whoever wins will probably take the championship.

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