5:10pm Thursday 22nd July 2010
LEIGH were left frustrated after a rain-affected match at Wigan ended in a draw.
The Liverpool and District Cricket Competition First Division leaders had been aiming to build on a convincing win in the previous week’s top-of-the-table clash with Sefton Park.
With play starting over an hour late, Leigh were invited to bat on a wet wicket with Keenan, 26, and Batterley, 21, ensuring the visitors had a solid start to build upon.
However, lengthy rain breaks interrupted the flow and in an attempt to set a competitive target wickets fell at regular intervals.
Sam Baldwin, 26, and Adam Roussak, 18 not out, found the boundary late on to enable a declaration with the score on 154 for 9 after 40 overs.
Despite there being approximately 36 overs left in the day, Wigan showed no intent to pursue a victory as they struggled to come to terms with the potency of Karl Brown and Richard Dempster’s opening burst.
And 12 for 2 soon became 45 for 7 as Leigh’s spinners tore through the home side’s middle order.
Two wickets from Dave Dempster and McKiernan’s figures of 3 for 17 from 10 overs brought Leigh close to a deserved victory.
Nevertheless, a dour eighth wicket stand between Wright and Armstrong frustrated the Leigh attack.
When a sharp chance was spilled in the dieing overs off Alex Roussak’s leg-spin it was clear that the visitors’ dominance would remain unrewarded as Wigan eventually finished on 72 for 7.
On Saturday, Leigh will look to maintain their 18-point lead at the top of the First Division when they host Southport and Birkdale before Sunday’s cup quarter final tie at home against Premier League leaders Lytham.
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