Last updated 19:45, Thursday, 17 July 2008

THE North Lancashire and Cumbria Cricket League X1 have reached the final of the Lee's Brewery Inter-League senior competition.

They beat the Manchester and District Association by seven wickets to reach the final which will be played at Furness on August 10.

The North Lancs Cumbria side is still waiting to find out who they will be playing.

Batting first Manchester got off to a good if slow start and seemed poised for a big total as they had 100 on the board and only one wicket down.

However, the home bowlers all bowled very economically and restricted the opposition to 153-9 in their 45 overs.

Peter Lawson took 3-29 while spinners Imran Khan (2-22) and Dominic Connor (2-38) did an excellent job.

In reply, the home side were never in trouble as Stuart Swallow (69) and Ryan Brown (5) gave them an excellent start and NLC eventually reached victory on 155-3.

The two leagues also squared-up in the Inter-League U18 competition and again it was North Lancs Cumbria who came put on top.

Torrential rain on Friday had virtually flooded the Worsley cricket ground, and little preparation had been possible on the pitch to be used for the match.

Both the pitch and outfield were just fit for play on Sunday and when Penrith’s Alex Atkinson won the toss he asked Manchester to bat first.

With 17 runs on the board Seascale’s Danny Lee took the first wicket and shortly after an excellent piece of fielding by Atkinson saw the other opener run out.

Vickerstown’s Lee Hogg then removed three Manchester batsmen for one run and Carlisle’s Alex Raybould took 4-4 as Manchester tumbled to 34 all out.

NLC’s batsmen also found the pitch awkward and at 26-5 there was some doubt about the outcome but no more wickets fell and the Atkinson and Lee carefully saw their side home at 38 for 5.