Promotion hopes take a dive

9:39am Thursday 4th September 2008

LEIGH CC’s aspirations of promotion took a severe blow as they lost by two wickets to Rainford and fell to fifth in the table with only two games left to play.

Leigh were asked to bat first and wickets soon started to tumble.

For the umpteenth time this season, Alex Roussak was harshly adjudged lbw (15). When Andy Batterley was bowled for 19 shortly afterwards Leigh were 38 for 2 but it was all downhill from there as the now familiar pattern of a Leigh batting collapse followed.

Leigh tumbled to 81 all out from just 36 overs and at tea the home side were rightly confident of a win that would see them stay in promotion contention.

From early on it was apparent that this would be no walk in the park for Rainford’s batsmen.

As usual Nazir and Greenwood bowled with pace and hostility and it was Nazir who struck twice in one over to remove Rimmer and Green.

Leigh sensed a chance with Rainford on 9 for 2 and knew that the wicket of Rainford’s professional Tambe was key. Greenwood duly obliged as Tambe was caught at short leg from a fiercely rising delivery. Rainford were now 28 for 3.

Vallance entered the attacked and quickly had Meredith caught by Dove for a stubborn 18. Rainford were now cautiously edging towards Leigh’s total but Leigh continued to bowl and field excellently and put pressure on the home side.

At the other end Leigh’s England U15 wicketkeeper, Joe Davies, stumped Pickervance from the leg-spin of Alex Roussak, but Rainford had progressed to 76 for 5.

Vallance then struck twice in two balls bowling Tonge and Williams to leave Rainford teetering on the brink of either victory or defeat at 80 for 7. And when Brook was run out attempting a crazy single the scores were level with Rainford on 81 for 8. But is wasn’t to be for Leigh and the winning runs soon followed to give Rainford a well deserved two wicket victory.

Leigh’s bowling figures were: Nazir (2 for 32 from 15 overs), Greenwood (1 for 12 from 10 overs), Vallance (3 for 11 from 8 overs), Alex Roussak (1 for 12 from 3 overs) and Dempster (0 for 9 from 2 overs).