LEIGH CC knocked arch rivals Wigan for six at the weekend!

The Beech Walk side got a flying start to the new season with a resounding 30-run victory.

In a rain-interrupted game limited to 40 overs, Leigh took the gamble and decided to bat first on a damp wicket.

And at 16-2 after six overs it looked a bad decision.

But ex-Golborne pair Andy Batterley and Andy Mullaney put on 77 for the third wicket to steady the ship.

Batterley impressed for his 65 before being run out, while Mullaney (pictured above) chipped in with a fluent 32.

The middle order continued the good work - Chris Hall (23) and Clive Muir (31) helping the home side to 189-8.

More rain brought the Wigan target down to 152 off a maximum 32 overs.

Good opening bowling from Mike Holden and Dave Potter kept the visitors behind the rate.

But Aussie opener Tim Sawyer found his range and 39 off three overs put them back in the game.

Sawyer's dismissal on 53 signalled a collapse, and Hall and Mullaney took three wickets apiece as the Pie Eaters ended on 122.

On Saturday Leigh face teams from Fleetwood Hesketh, New Brighton and Wallasey.

1st X1 (v Fleetwood Hesketh, A): T McKiernan (capt), R Clews (wkt), A Batterley, S Bailey, B Cottrell, D Dove, G Duddle, C Hall, M Holden, C Muir, A Mullaney.

2nd X1 (Fleetwood Hesketh, H): D Carty (capt), J Sodhi (wkt), D Ainscough, W Banner, A Bentham, M Bond, S Duxbury, C Gorst, C Melia, J Pugh, S Whalley.

3rd X1 (New Brighton, A): P Taylor (capt), D Taylor (wkt), K Akhtar, N Bassett, J Bruce, P Jones, N Jones, P Pennington, P Preston, M Savka, P White.

On Sunday Leigh 1st are at home to Wallasey in the Abbot Ale National KO. Team from T McKiernan (capt), R Clews (wkt), A Batterley, S Bailey, B Cottrell, D Dove, G Duddle, C Hall, M Holden, C Muir, A Mullaney, D Potter.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.