Bowlers star in heavy win

GUIDING LIGHT . . . Royton's Liam Brown kept a cool head in the Pennine Cricket League's defeat of the Liverpool Competition

A SUPERB bowling performance set up the Pennine Cricket League's senior team for an impressive five-wicket defeat of the Liverpool Competition.

Spearheaded by new ball pair Jake Sandham (Monton and Weaste) and Royton's Adam Good, the hosts were 18 for five at one stage of the Inter-League clash at New Brighton.

A middle-order rally of sorts took them to 97 for nine, before a last-wicket partnership lifted the total to 131 all out in the 43rd over.

Good finished with figures of three for 22, Sandham claimed two for 23 and the latter's club-mate, Ben Chapman, bagged three for 16.

Monton's Chapman followed up his exploits with the ball by scoring 47, while late addition Liam Brown proved his worth in an unbeaten knock of 28.

Greenfield pair Chris Gill and Alex Bychkov made 20 and 21 respectively as the PCL reached their target with 15 overs to spare.

PCL team manager Dexter Fitton said: "Our bowlers exploited the conditions really well.

"It was good, hard cricket and they were proper dismissals. They bowled in good areas.

"They were 90-odd for nine, so for them to get up to 130 meant it wasn't going to be a formality.

"We had a bit of a wobble, but Ben Chapman batted very well and Liam Brown showed a cool head to see us home. Chris Gill also skippered the side well."

The victory has sealed a semi-final date with the Greater Manchester Cricket League, who will boast home advantage on August 14.

After meeting in the preliminary round, which ended with an emphatic win for the GMCL, Fitton is hoping for a different outcome in a month's time.

He added: "They beat us at Glossop, but we've got some momentum now and also a platform to build on.

"I know more about the players by watching them play as a team. It's a decent-looking squad with some potential."

If the PCL do reach the final on Bank Holiday Monday, August 29, it would clash with a league programme, rearranged from earlier in the season because of poor weather.