League Cricket: Anthony makes his mark (8 Jul 1998)

8 July 1998

League Cricket: Anthony makes his mark

By Andrew Collomosse

FORMER West Indies fast bowler Hamesh Anthony produced a virtuoso all-round performance to keep Lancashire League champions Haslingden in touch with title favourites Nelson.

Haslingden went into the weekend's programme in need of maximum points from games against Lowerhouse and Rishton and, thanks in no small part to Anthony, they achieved their target.

He claimed five for 46 and struck a crucial half century as Lowerhouse were defeated by four wickets on Saturday before savaging the Rishton attack 24 hours later. He hammered 120, including five sixes and 15 fours, from only 92 balls to power the champions to 205 for eight declared and then took two quick wickets as Haslingden cruised to an 84-run win.

However Nelson, for whom professional Roger Harper had weekend figures of 10 for 91 in wins over Enfield and Lowerhouse, also collected maximum points ro maintain their advantage at the top.

Chorley went clear in the Northern League with an eight-wicket success over early pacemakers Leyland Daf, Keith Eccleshare taking seven for 52, while Werneth duo Robert Kennedy and Terry Pickersgill were once again in devastating form in the Central Lancashire League. After combining to dismiss Ashton for only 37 a week ago, they reduced Stand to 38 all out with New Zealand all-rounder Kennedy taking six for 25 and Pickersgill four for 12.

Lintz, struggling near the foot of the Tyneside Senior League, discovered their own G force to score two unexpected wins. Graham Clinnell took seven for 43 as they beat Annfield Plain by 25 runs and then Gary Innes, with 114 not out, and Gary Christie, six for 46, featured in a 27-run success against Burnopfield.

The semi-finals of the Yorkshire Inter-League KO Trophy produced two surprise results. The Bradford League, seeking a sixth successive victory, slumped to a three-wicket defeat against the South Riding League while the Airedale and Wharfedale League beat the Huddersfield League by 43 runs.

Bruce Percy, who plays for Bucks in the Minor Counties, was the Aire-Wharfe's top performer, including two sixes and seven fours in an important half century before claiming the vital wicket of Huddersfield skipper Ian Swallow.

Sunderland captain Adam Applegarth produced another fine all-round performance, 73 and five for 31 against Chester-le-Street, to keep his side in the hunt for Durham Senior League honours while in the Bolton league Kearsley's Parvez Mir hit an excellent 123 not out as his side defeated Astley Bridge by six runs with one ball left.

And with Mark Harvey away on England 12th man duty at Old Trafford, Ribblesdale League leaders Padiham recruited his Lancashire colleague Steve Titchard as a deputy professional. He responded with a fine 72 as Padiham defeated Edenfield by 103 runs to retain their narrow advantage over Cherry Tree in what is developing into a two-horse championship race.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)