IQBAL Sikander was Leigh CC's star turn as they crushed derby rivals Wigan by five wickets at Bech Walk.

The former Pakistan leg spinner was just one wicket away from an all-ten return as he claimed 9-65 - his second nine-wicket haul of a productive season that has so far brought him 76 wickets in 16 games.

Having been put in, Wigan's opening pair of Rob Turnbull and Momar added 35 before Momar was lbw to Sikander for six.

Taylor then went for a single and Dawber for a duck, both bowled by Sikander, as Wigan's score became 38 for 3. Coates joined Turnbull and took the score to 83 before Turnbull was lbw to Sikander for 48, although he had survived three massive shouts for his wicket, two of which came before he got off the mark.

Sikander saw off Wigan's middle order taking a further four wickets, including Coates for 38, as the third stoppage for rain took the players off at 128 for 8.

All the talk was whether Sikander could take all 10 wickets as the players returned. Cooper rode his luck early on to hit out lustily while Bradshaw played more cautiously. At 150 for 8, Leigh were grateful to Colin Smith for dismissing Bradshaw for 30.

Sikander accounted for Spencer for a duck to wrap up the innings for 166 and finish with magnificent figures of 22.2 overs, five maidens, nine wickets and 65 runs.

In reply, Tim McKiernan went in the second over for Leigh which brought Dave Dove and Andy Batterley together. With the score on 32, Wigan got the important wicket of Batterley, yorked by a ball from Cooper at 21.

Sikander played a fine cameo innings, hitting five fours in his 27 before Gareth Cross joined Dove and together they played sensibly to take the score to 143 before Cross was caught for 30 from 50 balls, but the Wigan spirit had been broken.

Dove was the immovable object at the other end and he reached a well deserve half century from 89 balls, including seven fours.

Steve Bailey came to the crease after Andy Mullaney was unfortunately adjudged out with 21 still to win. Bailey made light of the job with a quickfire 18 and fittingly, after a recent difficult run, hit the winning runs for Leigh and give everybody connected with the club a boost, with a five wicket victory over the pie-eaters. Dove was unbeaten on 60, his innings proving to be the backbone of a solid batting performance.

Tomorrow Leigh are home to Ormskirk but tonight (Friday) Leigh Under 18's play Highfield at Beech Walk in the Knockout Cup final. The bar will be open and food served from 6pm.