DARWEN’S run of fine Northern League form came to a shuddering end as they were beaten by leaders and champions-elect Leyland in a low scoring, drama filled showdown at Birch Hall.

The locals, without their injured skipper John Cordingley, went down by 30 runs despite knocking over the visitors for just 127 – but they reckoned without Leyland skipper David Makinson.

The former Lancashire man, who is now very much in the veteran category, tweaked his way to 7-30 as the Darwen batting wilted in the scorching sunshine – and they were found wanting against a side who look every inch the title candidates having been in the mix all season.

And while Saturday marked the half-way stage of the season, Leyland are bang on track as they found resolves of grit to beat a good Darwen side despite their seemingly inadequate score.

Leyland won the toss and unsurprisingly chose to bat but their start was not what they wanted or expected and they lost both openers Luis Reece and Chris Parkinson cheaply.

And then Nathan McDonnell departed for just four and Leyland were rocking at 23-3.

But impressive professional Brett Pelser dug in to make 42 and then there was a half-century for Andrew Makinson.

The captain’s son batted well to make his 51, a knock that turned out to be crucial in the context of an absorbing game.

Darwen professional Mohammad Zaman Khan claimed 4-27 from 18.1 mean overs but the real bowling star was Chris Wade.

The young opening bowler returned his best figures for Darwen as he claimed 5-43 from 16 overs as the locals gleefully knocked over the leaders – and then fully expected to chase down 127.

The early loss of Jordan Clarke did little to dampen Darwen hopes and even when fellow opener Niall Burke fell for six it was hardly panic stations, especially with run machine paid man Zaman Khan and talented teen Alex Davies at the crease and in the mood.

But they were both removed by Makinson senior and it was getting nervy, especially as the in-form professional was looking to be right the groove before his departure for 18.

Stand-in skipper Neil Cordingley made 18 and Sam Munns made 10 but no-one else got into double figures as Makinson spun away for 19 overs unchanged on his way to his 7-30 return as Darwen slumped to 97 all out after a rare batting failure.

The defeat left them in sixth spot while Leyland boast a 23-point lead over Barrow – and perhaps crucially, a 27-point advantage over regining champions and title favourites St Annes.

Leyland

Luis Reece b Cordingley 7
C Parkinson ct Clarke b Wade 7
N McDonnell b Wade 4
Pelser ct Bennett b Zaman Khan 42
K Cross ct Davies b Wade 3
A Makinson ct Emery b Zaman Khan 51
J Rounding b Wade 1
P Cummings b Wade 1
D Makinson LBW Zaman Khan 2
M Watkinson ct Wade b Zaman Khan 0
T Afsar Not Out 0
Extras 9
Total (all out , 47.1 overs) 127
C Wade 16 3 43 5, N Cordingley 9 1 25 1, Zaman Khan 18.1 5 27 4, N Burke 4 0 27 0.

Darwen

J Clarke b D Makinson 3
N Burke ct Reece b D Makinson 6
Zaman Khan ct Reece b D Makinson 18
A Davies LBW D Makinson 7
N Cordingley LBW Reece 18
D Fradd b Afsar 3
M Emery b D Makinson 9
S Munns ct Pelser b Afsar 10
M Bennett b D Makinson 4
C Wade ct Afsar b D Makinson 1
A Cook Not Out 1
Extras 17
Total (all out , 38 overs) 97
L Reece 10 3 29 1, D Makinson 19 6 30 7, J Rounding 2 0 9 0, T Afsar 7 1 18 2.

Leyland won by 30 runs.