ATTOCK and Millennium finished level on points at the top of the Accrington and District League A Division after both teams won their final matches on Saturday.

Paul Fitzpatrick of Taverners A, again proved to be the thorn in Attock's side as he hit a career-best 80 not out to deny Attock the bowling point they needed to take the title.

Long-time leaders Attock's slip allowed Millennium to draw level after gaining all six points in thrashing bottom club Haslingden Methodists at King George's.

Abrar Shah had earlier hit 62 not out and Waqar Ahmed 40 in Attock's 206-7 as Taverners used no fewer than 10 bowlers.

No such problems in B Division after Accrington A came from behind on the final stretch to take the six points they needed to overtake opponents Taverners B and Peel Park, winning at Thorneyholme Road for the first time since August 8, 1993.

Nadeem Ashraf hit his fifth half century of the season in Millennium's 172 all out. Shakoor Ali, Zahir Aslam and Saleem Hussain all hit 24, with Jeff Stanton taking 6-48 and Craig Sudworth 4-54 for Haslingden Methodists. Imran Rashid, Khizer Hayat and Saleem Hussain each took three wickets as Methodists were dismissed for 109, Craig Sudworth top scoring with 35. Manchester Road finished their campaign with a second successive win, this time at the expense of Whalley Road on a well used surface at Bullough Park. David Heys ensured his position at the top of the batting averages with 38 not out in Manchester Road's 141-5. Mark Saulle (5-73) and Heys (4-52) again bowled unchanged to dismiss Whalley Road for 133 in the final over and will no doubt be glad of the winter' rest to recharge their batteries.

A fourth wicket partnership of 92 between Mick Donnelly (78) and Iftikhar Younis (41) laid the foundations of Accrington's score of 157-6 in the B Division title decider with Taverners B.

Tight bowling and fielding made the hosts struggle for runs with the score at 85-3 after 25 overs, but a late spurt gained Accrington the batting point they needed. Paul Walsh and Imram Hussain swept away Taverners top order, reducing them to 12-4 but a determined rearguard action by Chris Kennedy (27), David Swift (26), Paul Taylor (28) and David Reed (17) put Taverners back in the race until Mus Shah, once again came good when it mattered to bowl Dwane Cox to give Accrington the B Division title. The result was a tremendous disappointment for Taverners, who had an excellent season, but in the end justice was done as Accrington were wrongly relegated from the A Division last season due to incorrect allocation of points. Everest climbed their mountain at last, winning their first match of the season after coming close on several occasions, at the expense of St Philip's.

The League Executive will meet on September 8 at the Great Eastern to confirm the awards for the 1999 season.

Results - A Division: Manchester Road 141-5, Whalley Road 133; Taverners A 175-7, Attock 206-7; Millennium 172, Haslingden Methodists 109.

B Division: Taverners B 145, Accrington A 157-5; St Philip's 49, Everest 50-3.

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