LEIGH were unable to force a win at Premier Division new boys Highfield in the opening match of the Liverpool and District Competition season but had better fortune in first round of the league’s T20 tournament.

Matthew McKiernan’s men had to settle for a draw against Highfield after being were thwarted by a fantastic century from Jahangir Mirza.

The visitors declared on 222-8 from 52.1 overs after being put into bat by the home side.

Leigh struggled to get a foothold in the early part of their innings as some tight bowling from Rotherham (3-58) saw them reduced to 36-2 and then 71-4.

But a 114 partnership between Karl Brown (90) and Adam Shallcross (69) for the fifth wicket helped them set a decent total.

With the weather looking ominous, Leigh finished their innings early and the game was finely poised with Highfield on 188-7 from 49 overs when rain brought an abrupt end to proceedings.

It will have felt like an opportunity missed for the Leigh bowlers, however, as Mirza stood defiant on 107 not out, with wickets tumbling at the other end.

Apart from Mirza, only Michael Farrell (30) and Rotherham (10no) made it to double figures.

Leigh enjoyed a much more comfortable day in the T20 as they beat Alder by 50 runs.

Both Ross Zelem (54) and McKiernan (51) hit half centuries in Leigh’s total of 177-4, while Ryan Housley (2-20 from three overs), McKiernan (2-16-3) and Lewis Dove (2-20-4) all took two wickets as Alder were held to 127-8 from their 20 overs.