DARWEN professional George Linde scored a magnificent century – but the Towers hopes of a return to winning ways in the Chorley Building Society Northern League were dashed by a Kendal rearguard action on Saturday.

Classy Linde, who has impressed all season, made a quite marvellous 103 with 12 fours and two sixes as Darwen piled on the runs at Kendal and he shared a 175-run stand for the second wicket with Chris Clarke as they looked to maintain the pressure on the top two.

Darwen managed to post a daunting 270-5 from their 50 overs – but home skipper Stu Parkin, who claimed four of the wickets to fall, was to prove a pain at the end of the game.

With Darwen closing in on a maximum points victory as Kendal wobbled after their former New Zealand Test man Jamie How had fallen for a high class 92, last man Parkin and number 10 Chris Miller frustrated them as they grimly dug in for a share of the spoils.

There was better news for Chorley, however, as they beat St Annes at Vernon Road thanks in the main to a magnificent contribution from all-rounder Will Moulton.

After David Fisher made 75 to give the locals a solid start Moulton walked to the wicket with 13 overs left – and he was in no mood to hang around.

Moulton raced to 50 with an incredible ‘Dilshan scoop’ six from only 38 deliveries faced.

His game changing knock included six fours and four sixes and helped Chorley to 202-5.

St Annes lost two early wickets and former Rawtenstall and Accrington man Toby Bulcock managed just five but a superb 54 from Nathan Armstrong left them in a strong position.

But following his departure to an Andy Holdsworth catch off Gaurav Dhar, the St Annes innings fell apart with Dhar and Fisher both claiming three wickets as the home side slipped to 146 all out.

* Darwen’s hopes of making a charge towards the top two in the Chorley Building Society Northern League suffered a blow yesterday when they were stunned by the Lancashire Colts at Birch Hall.

Darwen bowled the Colts out for just 72 with Kamran Anwar claiming four wickets and John Cordingley three.

But their chase was a disaster as they were rolled over for just 62 on a damp wicket.