CAPTAIN Simon Booth described his sensational 86 as his best ever innings after steering Farnworth to a breathtaking one-wicket win at home against Kearsley on Saturday as they recovered from 19-5 to chase 146.

Farnworth’s wicketkeeper-batsman came in at 16-4 and was left with a mountain to climb when Imran Mirza joined Ross Sutton, Jon Kerrigan, Kamran Younas and professional Noman Ali in falling cheaply.

But Booth steadied the ship and counter-attacked with seven fours and three sixes in 118 balls, only to fall at 138-9 with eight needed to win.

Thankfully for Farnworth, numbers 10 and 11 Abdullah Ishaq, who made an unbeaten 17, and Tufail Ahmed (two not out) saw them over the line in the 48th over, signalling their first Premiership success at the second attempt.

“That’s the best knock I’ve ever played. End of,” said Booth. “We were 19-5!

“I’ve got two or three hundreds, but in that situation at 19-5 facing Mo Jameel, Adeel Baig, Imran Khalid – that’s the best I’ve played by a mile.

“The lads who really need a mention are Neil Hyde (10 off 35 balls from number seven) and Abdullah.

“Abdullah’s was the best 17 you’ll see. He’s a young kid, 18 or 19 years old, who normally bowls. In the face of adversity, he never gave a chance.

“How the hell we’ve managed to win it, I have no idea. It’s still not sunk in.”

Asked to describe his innings and what he was thinking when he was out, Booth, who shared 41 for the sixth wicket with Hyde and 65 for the ninth with Ishaq from 73-8, said: “Abdullah never looked like getting out. But I won’t lie, I was bricking it.

“I got out bowled trying to hit Jameel for a boundary, and I thought, ‘What are you doing, you’ve taken it so close’.

“But Tufail, who was very solid, and Abdullah got us home

“Their lads – Khalid, Baig and Jameel were unplayable at times. Jameel is probably the best seam bowler in the league.

“I was very slow to start because I needed to weather the storm. But I started opening up when I got to 30.

“I went round to Cameron’s (Murray, Kearsley captain) house afterwards because our under-13s' sides are joined and I had to drop some keys off.

“He said, ‘You were waiting for the fourth bowler weren’t you?’. And I was.

“I knew they had to bowl someone else, and it was (Andrew) Lord. He only bowled two overs, but I whacked a couple of sixes.”

Kearsley were bowled out for 145 after electing to bat. Left-arm spinners Younas and Ali claimed three wickets apiece, Ahmed two with the new ball and Mirza one.

Booth added: “I’m biased, but I think we have one of the best bowling attacks in the league,” Booth added.

“We’ve effectively got two pro bowlers in Younas and Ali. Then I’ve got Mirza, Sutton, Ahmed. Abdullah usually opens the bowling for us, but he didn’t bowl.

“Hopefully this will kick-start our season.

“We were slow to begin with batting wise. Apart from Jonny Kerrigan with 70 last weekend, nobody else in the top five has got a score yet.

“If we get 150, not many people will get them against us. We’re that sort of team.”