ST ANNES returned to winning ways in the Vaux Northern League on Saturday (July 24) with a pulsating 15 runs victory over Chorley at Windsor Park.

Put in to bat, St Annes lost Adrian Darlington, caught by Michael Critchley, caught by Michael Critchley off Iqbal Patel for four, which left them 15-1.

Their second wicket fell at 37 when Bobby Denning was caught by Roland Horridge off Rex Purnell for 18.

Russ Bradley and Dave Callaghan restored the balance with a fourth wicket partnership of 47 runs before the former was caught by Nigel Heaton off Purnell for 33.

Half the St Annes team were dismissed for 127 when wicket-keeper Duncan Whalley was trapped lbw by Chorley professional Josh Marquet for five.

Dave Callaghan was seventh out with the score on 151 for an accomplished 66.

He batted 128 minutes, faced 100 balls and hit 10 fours.

The St Annes innings closed on 170-8 with Joe Davies undefeated with 17 and David Taylor two. In reply, Chorley openers Neil Bannister and James Fazackerley put on 25 before the former was bowled by Joe Davies for ten.

Two runs later Fazackerley was caught and bowled by Dave Callaghan for eleven.

Chorley then lost two wickets with the score on 41, but Nigel Heaton and Neil Senior retrieved the situation with a 36 runs partnership for the fifth wicket before the former was caught by Steven Twist off Callaghan for 20.

Chorley lost their sixth wicket at 78 when Michael Critchley was caught by Callaghan off Darlington without scoring.

Senior and Rex Purnell put on 43 runs for the seventh wicket before Senior was caught behind by Duncan Whalley off Joe Davies for 52.

He batted 69 minutes, faced 59 balls and hit one six and seven fours.

The next two wickets fell at 131 but Chorley's last pair of Iqbal Patel and Rex Purnell added 24 for the last wicket before Purnell was run out for seven to give second-placed St Annes a much needed victory.

This Saturday (July 31) St Annes travel to Woodhill Lane to play Morecambe.

St Annes will have to play to their full potential if they are going to win their eighth match of the season because Morecambe are a useful side with strength in batting and bowling.

Some people say that the Morecambe professional Ashwell Prince is a better fielder than his South African contemporary Jonty Rhodes.

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