Netherfield went to the top of the 3D Sports Northern Premier Cricket League for the first time this season after completing an amazing 15-points victory over Carnforth in which off-spinner Chris Miller took 10 for 51.

 Miller became only the second bowler in Northern League history to claim all ten wickets in an innings, following on from Morecambe professional Colin Hilton who collected 10 for 39 in 1969.

 The Cumberland county player routed Carnforth in an inspired spell of bowling from the pavilion end, claiming three victims bowled, one lbw and six caught as the home side were dismissed for 99.  Netherfield professional Callum Ferguson claimed the final catch to dismiss Adam Cowperthwaite with Carnforth still 86 runs short of the visitors’ 185 for 9.

 Carnforth sub-professional Wayne Madsen had provided the main resistance with a superb 57.

 Ferguson’s masterly 103 not out on a wet pitch earlier in the afternoon was overshadowed by Miller’s heroics.  The South Australian took his seasonal league tally to 1,307, 44 short of equalling Terry Hunte’s all-time league record with a potential two innings to come as he reached three figures for the sixth time this year.

 Netherfield have now won six of their last seven games, the other being abandoned, and gained 91 points from a potential 105 in their astonishing rise up the table.

 Overnight leaders Kendal lost at home to Leyland after being bowled out for 145 at Shap Road.  Hunte top-scored with 43 as Leyland vice captain Peter Cummings continued his fine recent bowling form with a return of 4 for 43.  Leyland professional Ameer Khan, who recently re-signed for the 2009 season, steered his side home with an undefeated 70.

 Blackpool rediscovered their fighting spirit after two Bank Holiday defeats but had to settle for a winning draw against Morecambe at Woodhill Lane.  Their Sri Lankan professional Sajeewa Weerakoon top-scored with 52 in his side’s innings of 134 as Jono Gates took 5 for 43.  Weerakoon then took 4 for 18 in 25 overs but Morecambe held out for a draw on 87 for 8 thanks largely to Phil Dennison’s stubborn resistance.

 Former Pakistan test player Atiq Uz-Zaman hit his fourth century of the season, an outstanding 124 not out, to spearhead St Annes’ convincing win at West Cliff over Preston. 

 Atiq batted throughout the St Annes innings of 214 for 4, in an innings described by one veteran supporter as one of the finest ever seen on the ground.  He hit four sixes and eight fours and has now scored 979 league runs, 106 short of equalling Rohan Kanhai’s club record.

 In reply, Preston were bowled out for 105 with 16-year-old seamer Zaffir Patel taking 5 for 29. Departing St Annes professional Mansoor Ahmed had a good day.  He hit 53, sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 160 in 31 overs with Atiq and the collected 5 for 34 with his leg-spin.

 Josh Tolley continued his outstanding season with 101 off 153 balls in Chorley’s winning draw at Ernest Pass.  The 18-year-old Chorley opener took his seasonal run tally to 703 at an average of 50 as the visitors, captained by Andy Holdsworth, in the absence of Jack Catterall totalled 188 for 8.  Mike Critchley hit 47 as 15-year-old Barrow leg-spinner Liam Livingstone took 4 for 54.

 Paul Wilcock (42 not out) and captain Daryl Wearing (37) steered their side to a draw in Barrow’s 155 for 8.  Professional Friedel de Wet took one for 55 in his final Chorley appearance before returning to South Africa.

 Despite fine bowling returns from Lancaster youngsters Scott Sparks and Michael Walling visitors Darwen earned a welcome 15 points from their trip to Lune Road.  Sparks took 5 for 36 and Walling 4 for 33 as Darwen were bowled out for 127.  But departing Darwen professional Atif Ashraf then collected 4 for 43 as the home side were dismissed for 106 in return, Stuart Hampson weighing in with 3 for 24 as Lancaster suffered three run-outs.

3D SPORTS NORTHERN PREMIER CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS
DIVISION ONE

Barrow v Chorley
Chorley (9pts) winning draw; Barrow (4pts)
Chorley 188 for 9 (J Tolley 101, M Critchley 47, L Livingstone 4 for 54)
Barrow 155 for 8 (P Wilcock 42 not out)

Carnforth v Netherfield
Netherfield (15pts) defeated Carnforth (3pts) by 86 runs
Netherfield 185 for 9 (C Ferguson 103 not out)
Carnforth 99 (W Madsen 57, C Miller 10 for 51)

Kendal v Leyland
Leyland (12pts) defeated Kendal (2pts) by 4 wickets
Kendal 145 (T Hunte 43, P Cummings 4 for 41)
Leyland 149 for 6 (Ameer Khan 70 not out)

Lancaster v Darwen
Darwen (15pts) defeated Lancaster (3pts) by 21 runs
Darwen 127 (S Sparks 5 for 36, M Walling 4 for 33)
Lancaster 106 (Atif Ashraf 4 for 43)

Morecambe v Blackpool
Blackpool (6pts) winning draw; Morecambe (4pts)
Blackpool 134 (S Weerakoon 52, J Gates 5 for 43)
Morecambe 87 for 8 (S Weerakoon 4 for 18)

Preston v St Annes
St Annes (15pts) defeated Preston (0pts) by 109 runs
St Annes 214 for 4 (Atiq Uz-Zaman 124 not out, Mansoor Ahmed 53)
Preston 105 (Z Patel 5 for 29, Mansoor Ahmed 5 for 34)

Fleetwood no game

The table currently reads: Netherfield 193; Blackpool 190; Morecambe 188; Kendal 187; Leyland 173; Chorley 168; St Annes 166; Barrow 135; Preston 131; Darwen 121, Carnforth 119; Lancaster 115; Fleetwood 80.

The remaining fixtures for the top clubs are as follows:
Netherfield: Preston (h), Morecambe (a);
Blackpool: Barrow (h), Chorley (h);
Morecambe: Darwen (a), Netherfield (h);
Kendal: Chorley (a), Preston (h);

3D SPORTS NORTHERN PREMIER CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS
SECOND DIVISION (2nd XI)

Chorley v Barrow
Chorley (12pts) defeated Barrow (0pts) by 7 wickets
Barrow 35 (M Parry 4 for 22, A Harty 4 for 1)
Chorley 38 for 3

Darwen v Lancaster
Lancaster (9pts) winning draw; Darwen (4pts)
Lancaster 198 (C Atkinson 58, C Davies 6 for 71)
Darwen 122 for 7

Leyland v Kendal
Leyland (12pts) defeated Kendal (0pts) by 8 wickets
Kendal 74 (S Cartwright 6 for 22)
Leyland 75 for 2

Netherfield v Carnforth
Netherfield (15pts) defeated Carnforth (2pts) by 77 runs
Netherfield 159 for 7 (O Hill 49 not out)
Carnforth 82

St Annes v Preston
St Annes (9pts) winning draw; Preston (4pts)
St Annes 188 for 8 (P Wilks 53, D Bartholomew 44)
Preston 144 for 8 (D Bartholomew 4 for 34)

Blackpool, Fleetwood, Morecambe no games

In the second division, in what is now a two-horse race Chorley lead St Annes by seven points, with Lancaster, Barrow and Blackpool in pursuit.
The current table reads: Chorley 217; St Annes 210; Lancaster 197; Barrow 189; Blackpool 187; Morecambe 164; Netherfield 146; Leyland 141; Darwen 139; Preston 110; Kendal 95; Fleetwood 89; Carnforth 71

The run-in for the top two is as follows:
Chorley: Kendal (a), Blackpool (h);
St Annes: Fleetwood (a), Carnforth (h);