Westhoughton & District completed a double in the Halliwell Winter Rounders League by winning the Championship playoff against Crompton XI on Sunday.

Having won the Russell Seddon Tournament last week, they were in determined mood against Crompton who had headed the league table for most of the season until the sides met at the end of February.

Crompton had a 30-run advantage and made a steady start, scoring seven ones and a two before losing two batters at first base. With three batters left at the end of the 33 good ball innings, they had scored a respectable 78.

Westhoughton knew they had to take every opportunity to grab extra runs and at the end of their first innings were just eight runs behind.

Without the advantage of a handicap in the second innings, Crompton had to improve on their first innings and started with a couple of threes, but Westhoughton contained them well although the second dismissal only came on the sixteenth ball.

Needing 64 for victory, Westhoughton didn't make the best of starts and lost four batters first time round, two caught and two out at first base. Despite these setbacks, they stuck to their task and panicked Crompton into making mistakes to the extent that they scored five rounders.

With three balls remaining, Crompton were still in a winning position, but determination helped Westhoughton to score a three and two rounders (by Keeley Smethurst and Deb Taylor), to turn the game Westhoughton's way, giving them the League Championship by a seven run margin at 140-133.

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