Doom-mongers
Except when McKiernan and Hurst were putting on 58 for the third wicket, Leigh never looked like saving the game, let alone winning it.
And so that was how S&B survived when few had given them even a devout prayer in August.
If folk knew that miracles were so straightforward, maybe more people would perform them.
Southport and Birkdale’s second team also ended the season with a win when they defeated Newton-le-Willows by seven wickets at Trafalgar Road.
The result leaves Tom Baybutt’s side in sixth place at the end of a tough campaign and it is also ends Baybutt’s time as captain, a role he has always discharged with diligence, insight and sympathy.
Everyone who has played in his teams, but particularly, perhaps, the younger cricketers, will be very grateful to him.
S&B
Lea c McKiernan b Hulbert .............. 28 Fielding run out (McKiernan) ...... 114 Carney b Hulbert ................................. 35 Dilshan b Mason .................................. 15 Snellgrove b Mason ............................ 15 Sultan lbw Hulbert ................................ 7 Phillips b Hulbert ................................... 9 Firth not out ............................................. 9 Gailey c Mason b Hulbert .................. 0 Wincer c Farrar b Hulbert ................... 3 Cunningham not out ........................... 0 Extras ........................................................... 9 TOTAL (for 9 wkts. decl.) ................. 244 FoW 1-47 2-157 3-195 4-206 5-218 6-230 7-232 8-232 9-244
LEIGH
Grundy c Carney b Dilshan ............... 1 Dorsey c Fielding b Dilshan .............. 7 McKiernan run out (Lea) ................... 17 Hurst c Snellgrove b Wincer ............ 50 Shallcross c Phillips b Cunningham .. 0
Church lbw Gailey ................................. 0 Farrar c Snellgrove b Cunningham 5 Hulbert b Wincer .................................... 3 Mason c Lea b Wincer ........................ 12 Graham not out ...................................... 9 Allan st Carney b Wincer ..................... 0 Extras ......................................................... 10 TOTAL ..................................................... 114 FoW: 1-13 2-14 3-72 4-73 5-74 6-83 7-93 8-93 9-114 10-114
Dilshan 9-4-28-2 Firth 7-0-22-0 Cunningham 12-6-24-2 Gailey 4-0-8-1 Wincer 6.1-1-22-4