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Darwen made it six wins from six completed Vaux Northern League games but were given the fright of their lives in an exciting low scoring encounter with Leyland DAF.

In conditions which helped the bowlers all day, DAF were soon reeling at 32-5, the Birch Hall side's hero being young opening bowler Andrew Mercer, who received the perfect birthday present with a return of 5-27, well supported by professional Richard Petrie (3-27) as DAF were bowled out for only 92.

Darwen's reply was even more disastrous as a decision to alter their batting order to give some players much-needed batting practice seemed to have backfired and, at 27-5, their first league defeat seemed certain.

The sixth wicket fell at 48 in the face of excellent DAF bowling, but a stand of 37 between Petrie (32) and Gareth Cordingley (14) took Darwen to the brink of victory before both departed in quick succession to leave them at 86-8.

But they managed to creep over the winning line without further loss.

Chorley completed a Bank Holiday double with another crushing win at Fox Lane. Batting was never easy and Chorley were indebted to Fazackerley's 45 for holding their innings together as wickets fell regularly.

For Leyland, Stephen Pallett bowled unchanged to return figures of 25-14-31-4 but Chorley's total looked useful.

Josh Marquet and Rex Purnell squeezed the life out of the early batsman and, backed up by slick fielding and catching, Leyland were quickly to 32-5.

Purnell then struck with two in two balls before Eccleshare ran through the tail with the final three wickets for just a single to leave Chorley 15-point victors by 95 runs.