ST HELENS lost to league leaders Worsley with the winning runs coming with one ball to spare.

But the game was marred by a horrific injury to Worsley bowler Kell who broke his leg in three places trying to stop a straight drive from Ian Mackus.

And with St Helens' Steve Jordan suffering a recurrence of a thigh strain after three overs both sides were reduced to 10 men.

St Helens were put in to bat and went off to a good start with Roughley (33), Tyms (30), Mukherjee (62) and Mackus (35) all making good contributions. Wickets fell quickly in the last three overs in a vain attempt to reach the fourth batting point at 200 and the innings closed on 193 all out.

Jordan managed 1-6 off three overs before he pulled up lame but Bappa Mukherjee who kept St Helens in contention with 5-43. Former county batsman Andy Hayhurst hit a good 62 but the innings which swung the game in Worsley's favour came from the bat of Walter who scored a quick 50 after being dropped on a duck.

A couple of overthrows on the last over reduced the deficit to two off two balls and St Helens were left to reflect on what might have been.

The second team had a good win in the reverse fixture with St Helens batting first and declaring at 182-7. Craig Horabin (64), Neil Hull (53) and Ian Lawless (40) supported by Jeff Gore (18) were all in fine form.

Worsley were going along nicely at 33-0 when Bobby Kenny (4-55) and Daniel Massey (5-39) reduced them to 60-7 at the start of the last 20 and 121 all out with three overs to go.

India Galaxy under 19 play a local select eleven tomorrow (Friday) at 11.0am followed by St Helens v Newton-le-Willows in the Echo Cup at 6pm. The first team are in action again on Saturday against Huyton at home with the thirds entertaining Ormskirk on Sunday.

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