Netherfield clinch Northern title

The 3D Sports Northern Premier ECB League reached an exciting conclusion as Netherfield were crowned champions after a dramatic final day's action.

The day began with four teams still in contention for the title, Netherfield leading the table by three points from Blackpool with Morecambe a further two points behind. Fourth-placed Kendal were six points off the top.

Netherfield timed their run superbly, hitting top-spot for the first time this season after their 15-points victory at Carnforth a fortnight ago.

And Chris Parry's side remained in pole position after securing a tense four-wicket win at Morecambe.

The Woodhill Lane ground had been under water earlier in the week but a match reduced to 40 overs per side commenced 70 minutes late with shortened boundaries. Morecambe reached 125 for seven thanks largely to a fighting unbeaten 45 from Gareth Pedder as Scott Clement bowled unchanged to take 3-56 and Marc Hadwin collected 3-40.

Netherfield's Australian professional Callum Ferguson then batted superbly to hit 74 and lead his side to victory. Ferguson broke Terry Hunte's all-time Northern League batting record of 1,351 runs set in 1994 and finished with an aggregate of 1,381 runs at an average of 106.23.

Ferguson survived a caught-and-bowled chance off Graham Lee when 20 and went on to hit the next four balls he received from the hapless bowler for six. His 74 came off 62 balls and contained seven sixes, six off Lee's bowling, and two fours.

Jonathan Gates earned three late innings lbw dismissals but Netherfield got home with over 13 overs to spare and then had an anxious wait for the result of the Blackpool- Chorley game at Stanley Park.

Blackpool, batting first in a match reduced to 35 overs per-side made 127 for seven with Luis Reece hitting 54 and Michael Moore 38 as Chorley's deputy professional Roy Silva took 3-35. A victory for the home side would have taken them level on points with Netherfield but would have earned them the title having won more games.

But Chorley held out for a tense draw, closing on 100 for eight despite Richard Gleeson and professional Sajeewa Weerakoon each taking four wickets for Blackpool. Netherfield's players had gathered in the Morecambe pavilion and listened to commentary from Stanley Park on mobile telephones before commencing their celebrations as league secretary John Cooper journeyed from Blackpool with the trophy.

Kendal also began the day with a chance of the title and moved up to second after defeating Preston at Shap Road. Preston were bowled out for 104, losing their last ten wickets for only 49 runs including three run-outs. Ben Simm, who began the day level with Lee in the battle to become the leading amateur wicket-taker, collected 4-29.

Simm took 46 wickets at an average of 15.15 and finished ahead of Clement (43), Lee (42) and Gleeson (41). Kendal professional Ross McMillan was wicket-less but finished as the season's leading wicket-taker with 66 victims, three ahead of St Annes professional Mansoor Ahmed.

Kendal got home by six wickets with 14 balls to spare thanks largely to an uncharacteristically sombre innings from outgoing league record-holder Hunte, whose 35 came off 74 balls.

Leyland's home game with Lancaster was a victim of the wet weather so outgoing champions St Annes took advantage, moving up to fifth after a tense three-wickets win at Carnforth. In another rain-reduced match Carnforth were bowled out for 79, Mansoor Ahmed turning the ball square at times in his final game as St Annes professional. The Pakistani leg-spinner took 5-18 with only captain Adam Hornby making much headway with 27.

St Annes' former Carnforth batsman Atiq Uz-Zaman then reached 1,000 runs for the season during his innings of 26 as the visitors edged home by three wickets to give outgoing captain Duncan Whalley a last-day success. Atiq was the league's leading amateur run-maker, finishing with 1,005 runs at an average of 55.83. John Denwood took three for 22 for Carnforth.

Darwen finished their season in style with a 15-points win at Fleetwood and moved up to eighth. Outgoing professional Atif Ashraf was run out for 95 as they made 169 for 6 in a 45-overs contest at Broadwater, Mike Clinning taking 4 for 37. The promising Kamran Anwar then took 4 for 33 and skipper Andrew Cook 4 for 6 as Fleetwood collapsed from 84 without loss to 122 all out, despite a fine 50 from Adam Parker.