Pelser on the pulse for Leyland

Leyland continued their sensational start to the Furness Building Society Northern Premier Cricket League (incorporating Readers Cricket Balls) defeating rivals Chorley in a thrilling derby at Fox Lane.

Leyland's South African professional Brett Pelser was the hero of his side's tense win, masterminding the run chase with an impressive undefeated 85 including four sixes and eight fours.

Leyland were wobbling at 70 for six chasing 146 to win after Kieran McCullagh again bowled impressively to take four wickets but Pelser found the ideal partner in the experienced Peter Cummings who was undefeated on 35 at the close.

Chorley's modest total was bolstered by a defiant undefeated 54 from Michael Critchley, back after a broken thumb, but their own top South African pro JJ Smuts was one of Andrew Makinson's victims in a spell of 3-29 that had the visitors struggling.

Father David weighed in with 2-29 and Chorley, despite a fighting 23 from Ian Oakes and a fine bowling spell from Smuts (2-47 off 20 overs) rued the absence of key men Jack Catterall, James Reynard and Billy Smith.

Leyland lead reigning champions St Annes by 15 points after Atiq Uz-Zaman inspired a successful run chase for the second time in five days.

After his undefeated 135 accounted for Darwen on May Day, Atiq hit 99 off 98 balls before being caught behind off Graham Dawson as St Annes chased down Barrow's 234 for five at Vernon Road to win by five wickets.

Stephen Twist was 62 not out at the close and Charles Boucher hit 35 in an opening stand of 89.

Opener Greg Platten, Barrow's winter acquisition from Cockermouth hit 76 off 137 balls and received good support from pro Pasan Wanasinghe (45), Chris D'Leny (25) and Darren Clark who blasted an undefeated 37 off 21 balls.

Morecambe and Kendal are joint third with 41 points.

Morecambe enjoyed a dramatic last ball win over Darwen at Birch Hall as Kamran Anwar was brilliantly caught by Chris Williams at backward square leg off Richard Cupit to leave Tommy Clough's men winners by 14 runs.

Morecambe celebrate last ball win against Darwen

Cupit and Williams both joined Morecambe from Westmorland League clubs during the winter and made significant contributions.

Ex-Silverdale all rounder Williams hit his first Northern League half century, making 53 off 83 balls as Morecambe reached 198 for five.

Opener Mark Woodhead bolstered the innings with 40 in 39 overs and popular pro Mandla Mashimbyi supplied the fireworks with 61 off 39 balls including five sixes, all off Kamran Anwar.

Teenager Anwar was Darwen's most impressive bowler, taking 4-74 and had the consolation of bowling Mashimbyi with a slower ball, acknowledged by a friendly handshake from the South African.

Darwen looked the likelier winners as they reached 137 for four with ten overs left but they lost three wickets with the score at 150 including Neil Cordingley, leg before to Cupit for a fluent 50 off 72 balls.

Medium pacer Cupit, a former Morecambe junior who had been playing for Heysham, was the key man taking 4-57 off 19 overs and with Mashimbyi and skipper Clough weighing in with two wickets apiece and 'keeper Lewis Edge accounting for pro Mohammad Zaman Khan with a stunning catch off Cupit Darwen lost their last six wickets for 34 runs.

Kendal were frustrated by the defiance of Carnforth pro Gareth Pedder who hit an undefeated 62 off 64 balls including six fours and five sixes to salvage a draw at Lodge Quarry.

Pedder and Adam Hornby (51 off 70 balls, including six fours and two sixes) added 90 in a fighting eighth wicket stand and last man Bradley Hoyle survived nine balls as Carnforth finished 205 for nine. Earlier Ryan Nelson opened with 43 off 111 balls.

Kendal skipper Ross McMillan continued his superb start to the season by making 60 off 68 balls and then taking 4-47.

McMillan shared a third wicket stand of 93 with Terry Hunte (51) and declared his side's innings after 47 overs on 227 for seven to allow an extra three overs in what proved to be a thwarted victory pursuit.

Fleetwood's Australian professional and captain Matthew Frith was the day's top-scorer with a magnificent 142 off 136 balls including 20 fours and two sixes at Parkside Road.

With Mark Emsley (39) and Adam Sharrocks (35) lending valuable support the visitors posted an imposing 264 for eight despite the efforts of opening bowler Ryan Wilson (4-82).

Sydney First-Grade opening bowler Ryan Smith pinned Netherfield's Australian pro Nick Kruger leg before for 15 and despite good contributions from Craig Walmsley (40), Chris Parry (40), John Huck (48) and Ben Barrow (39) the home side closed well short on 223 for seven with Smith and Frith each taking three wickets.

Lancaster confirmed their improvement after finishing with the wooden spoon last year by defeating last season's runners-up Preston by four wickets with two balls to spare at West Cliff.

Preston had made 179 for eight with skipper Adam Parker (52 off 94 balls) and Lukman Vahaluwala (47 off 77 balls) the major contributions.

Skipper Michael Stevens bolstered his side's reply with 47 off 128 balls, opening with a stand of 65 with Jamie Heywood (32).

Tim Barry, who had earlier taken 3-29, made 26 and pro Roy Silva 27 off only 15 balls with the experienced Brendan Hetherington undefeated on 27 at the close.

Preston's deputy professional Atamad Ul Haq took 4-68.

The finish at Stanley Park was equally tense with Blackpool wicketkeeper Rob Sissons running out Lancashire Colts skipper Jason Swift off the fourth ball of the last over to give his side victory by five runs.

Blackpool had made 178 for nine, opener Alex Smith top-scoring with 50 off 103 balls, Michael Moore making 40 in the middle order and skipper Paul Danson 36 as the Colts opening bowler Dan Hawke returned 4-30.

Tom Steel (39) and Ashley Gowers (40) were the main contributors in the Colts side's chase as Steven Mercer took three for 44 off 18 overs.

On a day of dramatic action there was a last ball win for Morecambe over Darwen, a superb run chase by St Annes to defeat Barrow, a victory by Lancaster at Preston with two balls to spare and a tense finish at Stanley Park where Blackpool defeated Lancashire Colts in the last over.

Carnforth held out for a draw against Kendal with their last pair together while Fleetwood recovered from a recent disappointing spell to have the best of a high-scoring draw at Netherfield.