The rain may have had the final say - but Calum Turner’s bat did most of the talking.
The Formby skipper compiled a magnificent unbeaten 141 - his fifth ECB Premier Division century of the season, a mark no-one has bettered in the modern era - to put Leigh’s attack to the sword for the second Saturday running.
Seven days ago, he’d fallen for 99 but went on to watch his side chase down 302 - this time, the personal goal was completed in style, while the team narrowly missed out.
When George Burrows hurtled in to deliver the first ball of the penultimate over - a wide long hop, which number 10 Nathan Graham obligingly slapped to cover - there wasn’t a drop of rain in the sky.
But by the time last man Patrick Allan had scratched out his guard, it was drizzling - and by the time he’d safely navigated four balls, the clouds had burst. The umpires had no choice to lead the players from the field with seven balls remaining for Formby to take a 10th wicket for the first time this season.
The impression was that Leigh had got out of jail, closing on 203/9 in reply to the hosts’ 265/4. But less than an hour earlier, they’d held all the keys.
Tom Grundy and skipper Karl Brown had put on 55 in good time to leave their side 134/2, with 17 overs left to knock off the remaining 132 runs. Brown had just flayed a Burrows over for 17, including a huge pull into the trees above the pavilion - with two set batters at the crease, the momentum was all the visitors’.
Then left-armer Steve Lazars tossed one up to Grundy, who’d played nicely for 53, and beat his attempted slog-sweep. A few overs later, with 107 needed from 12, Brown played back to a flatter delivery from Ankit Kalsi and lost his bails.
The floodgates were open. Adam Shallcross could only watch as Lazars made hay, his gentle pace disguising his menace. By the time Alex Mason top-edged a pull, the Irishman had six wickets and the target was a distant 84 runs away, with six overs left and two wickets remaining.
It was probably the first time all afternoon the equation had been unquestionably in Formby’s favour. After Brown won the toss and chose to field following a 45-minute delay, Allan made two early breakthroughs, including a brutal delivery that leapt on to Sam Oldham’s edge, and the visitors’ tails were up.
But Turner had already signalled his intent with two beautiful cover drives, and the arrival of Indian pro Kalsi signalled the first of many turning points.
The two left-handers added 198 inside 35 overs, with barely a false shot. With contrasting styles - Kalsi using the angles and finding the gaps, Turner striking cleanly and tormenting the fielders on a rock-hard, unpredictable outfield - they left the visitors nowhere to turn.
Turner added more shots to his repertoire as he piled on the runs - one slog-sweep struck the pavilion, while another bounced through the open door of the clubhouse; a delicate late dab took him to yet another century, matching the record set by Ainsdale’s Faiz Fazal in 2016.
Kalsi seemed certain to join him in three figures but was strangled down the leg side on 90 by Allan, who finished with 4/66 and less punishment than his team-mates.
Formby had batted quickly enough to make up for the delayed start, but still Turner was unsure about declaring at tea, eventually calling a halt mid-way through the break. He knew how true the pitch was, and how his attack have struggled; the only thing he couldn’t be certain of was the weather.
In the end, it probably didn’t make much difference. Allan only had one ball from Burrows left, and Shallcross had been relatively untroubled by Lazars even when he was trying to score runs.
But it was still an anticlimax, Turner said afterwards.
“We were seven balls short, and anything could have happened,” he added.
“The wicket was unbelievable and the outfield was lightning, so as soon as I got going, I felt like I would just carry on.
“But especially with the rain around, we were never sure whether we were going to put them in or give it another two overs.”
In the end, it was hard to argue with his timing - even if it had looked a little generous when Grundy and Brown were holding sway.
Turner said: “They were in control, but I don’t think they were ever miles ahead of us.
“We were always on the hunt for wickets and always thinking positively. Then once we got Karl out, it was all systems go.”
The late arrival of Kalsi has galvanised Formby’s season. The biggest threat to his and Turner’s partnership was their different expectations when it came to running between the wickets, often a key difference between the professionals and even the best amateurs.
“He keeps everyone on their toes,” added Turner. “It’s what he’s used to, so we’ve got to adapt to that as well.”
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A delayed start meant Premier Division leaders Wallasey were in a hurry at Newton-le-Willows - but they made up for lost time by racing to 190/5 inside 25 overs, with 72 from Chris Davies and 61 from Danny Beaver.
Then it was over to Sumit Ruikar, who claimed his 12th five-for of the season, finishing with 7/64 to wrap up a 36-run win. Rizwan Haider was last out for a defiant 90.
Northern kept up the challenge in second place, deepening Southport & Birkdale’s relegation worries with a 98-run win at Trafalgar Road. Liam Grey’s 114, supported by Chris Laker’s 61, helped the visitors declare on 244/4, before Tom Sephton’s 5/49 made short work of the struggling hosts.
Ormskirk’s 200/9 was enough for a 61-run win at New Brighton, who kept the score down thanks to David While’s 5/46.
For the second week running, Birkenhead Park dismissed Orrell Red Triangle cheaply - this time for 101. The visitors knocked off the runs for a four-wicket victory - no home side won in the Premier Division.
Tyler McGladdery’s 58 helped Rainhill post 197/6 at Wigan; the weather meant there wasn’t time to force a result, with Aaron Redmond’s 54 helping the hosts to 161/7.
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Division One leaders Lytham stretched their advantage with a seven-wicket win over Rainford. Akash Vashisht took 5/18 to dismiss the visitors for 87.
The only other result was at Caldy, where Northop Hall chased 76 for a seven-wicket win.
Liverpool recovered from 13/4 to post 195 against Colwyn Bay, thanks to Jared Clein’s unbeaten 79; the visitors were 15/3 at the close.
Joshua Andrady suffered the fate of being run out for 99 as Firwood Bootle made 190 against Sefton Park, with Ryan Westwell contributing 50; Chris Bellis and Paul Horton hit 50s as the visitors made it to 146/2.
Fleetwood Hesketh held on nine down against Ainsdale, with Rana Thakur making 56 in reply to the visitors’ 208/6.
Fifties for Michael Farrell and Madduma Lakmal helped Highfield to 190/6 at Spring View, who closed on 170/7 thanks to 68 from Buddika Karawgodalage.
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The clash of the top two in Division Two fell foul of the weather, with Maghull closing on 125/2 in pursuit of Southport Trinity’s 178/7. Macauley Lawrenson finished unbeaten on 51, after openers Scott Francis and Salman Ahmed had made twin 58s for the visitors.
Wavertree overhauled Hightown St Marys’ 147, Callum Jacob’s unbeaten 56 earning a five-wicket win.
Old Xaverians' 194/5 was enough for a 47-run win over Prestatyn, Ian Carroll top-scoring with 54; Sutton chased 105 for a seven-wicket win over Parkfield Liscard; and Alder closed on 83/5 in response to St Helens Town’s 160/8.
