GREG DIMERY completed a champagne season with Leigh.

The opener has simply sparkled in the club's final games as they clinched a place in next season's Lancashire Cup.

His last three innings brought him a magnificent 275 runs - starting with an unbeaten 104 in an emphatic nine-wicket win at Marchwiel.

For good measure he also chipped in with 10 wickets - ending with a five-wicket haul in Sunday's tense win against Southport & Birkdale.

Against Marchwiel he first put the brakes on the home batsmen, his spin attack claiming 3-81. Then he cut loose with the bat as Leigh chased 177-7. Incredibly, he went from 50 to his ton in just 29 balls, firing to all parts of the ground.

On Saturday Leigh just missed out on four straight wins as they settled for a draw at St Helens Recs.

They raced to 182-3 declared with Dimery finally falling at 88 (10 fours and a six in 104 balls) with top backing from Steve Bailey 30 and Dave Dove 55. Recs were looking fair at 99-2. But Dimery (2-62), Dave Potter (3-53) and Ben Cottrell (fresh from his 2-1 in 10 balls against Marchwiel) taking 2-38 ripped out the middle-order.

Two run-outs left Recs stumbling at 169-9 and two overs left. Dimery uprooted the middle stump of the last man - only for it to be called a no-ball.

The opportunity was gone. Eight bonus points for a draw.

And so to Sunday . . . and more thrills. Dimery snapped up 5-59 but Southport battled on to 190, ignoring the declaration, their skipper grinding to an unbeaten TWO - from 49 balls!

Two fine deliveries from Tim McKiernan (2-1 in 2.3 overs) finished them off. And leaves SuperMac carrying his hat-trick ball through the winter and into 1998.

Dimery hit 83 from 90 balls as Leigh chased 191. Dove struggled to 24 but Danny Carty thumped an unbeaten 33 including two consecutive balls into the car park.

Excitement rose with the game in the balance. Nine needed from two overs, six from seven balls.

Fittingly, it was Carty who launched another huge six into the tennis courts for victory, ensuring Leigh's place in the 1998 Lancashire Cup.

A wonderful climax to a super season!

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