Last updated at 09:58, Friday, 02 July 2010

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DALTON emerged victorious when last season’s two relegated sides did battle at a sun-drenched Ulverston Road on Saturday.

The home side beat neighbours and rivals Lindal Moor by six wickets in an entertaining North Lancs Division One encounter.

With the 2010 season reaching the halfway stage, Dalton and Lindal – both of whom lost their Premier Division status last term – went into the game separated by just 19 mid-table points.

Lindal won the toss and batted first on a hard but green wicket.

A devastating opening spell by Dalton seamer John Bell ripped through the Lindal top order.

After surviving the initial onslaught, Paul Clarke contributed 37 before being bowled by Adam Gibson.

Skipper Mike Hughes then set about building a Lindal total on his own.

Batting at number five, the former Barrow captain crafted a superb knock of 90 before being dismissed, caught and bowled by Bell.

Hughes’ patient innings lasted 30 overs. He hit 16 fours during his time at the crease.

The lower order provided some support, but without the veteran captain’s knock, Lindal would have really struggled.

Having been 100-5 earlier in their innings, the visitors closed on 216 all out in the 50th over.

Bell finished with 3-41 from his 15 overs and Gibson 3-44 from 12.2 overs.

In reply, Dalton opener Justin Quint punished some wayward bowling to set his side off to as good start.

At the other end, Lindal spinner John Atkinson kept things tight and dismissed Sam Costa (9).

A stunning catch by Tom Heywood accounted for the dangerous Bell (16) off the bowling of Steve Moore.

Heywood was at it again soon after when catching Paul Jones (21).

The vastly-experienced Quint, however, continued to keep Dalton ahead of the run-rate. The Aussie eventually fell for a fine 90 when caught at mid-wicket by Clarke off the bowling of Heywood. Quint’s innings included 12 fours and one six.

Dalton were led past the winning post in the 43rd over by Liam Curwen, who hit a match-winning four to bring up his half-century.

Atkinson was Lindal’s only real bowler of note, with the tidy figures of 1-30 off his 15 overs.

Hughes said: “We really let the game slip through our grasp after getting ourselves into a decent position.

“After John Bell blasted through our top order we batted well as a unit to reach a total we felt we could defend.

“Unfortunately we gave Justin Quint a start and then when the moments came to grab the game by the scruff of the neck we failed to take them.”

Dalton remain seventh in the table, now six points behind sixth-placed Lindal.

Duddon, who thrashed Ulverston by 223 runs on Saturday, lead the way on 171 points, with Wigton six points adrift.

l There was disappointment for Lindal Moor’s second team on Sunday when they were beaten by Haverigg in the semi-finals of the Vigodny Cup.

Lindal posted 77, which the home side knocked off with six wickets to spare. Haverigg will meet either Seascale or Whitehaven in the final.

l In-form Barrow reached the last-four of the County Cup with a six-wicket home victory over Cleator on Sunday.

Cleator made 148 all out, with the hosts knocking them off for the loss of four wickets. Professional Pasan Wanasinghe top scored with 51.

Just 24 hours earlier Barrow had made it five Northern League wins on the spin with a 26-run victory at Preston.

Wanasinghe took 6-45 and now has an incredible 48 league wickets this season for the title contenders, who remain second in the table.

First published at 13:08, Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk