St Annes stay in cricket title chase as Blackpool's big match is washed out

Tom Higson had an outstanding game for St Annes

The Northern Premier Cricket League’s massive match between title rivals Netherfield and Blackpool was washed out yesterday.

Both sides receive five points from the abandonment in Cumbria and Blackpool will be the happier as they retain their two-point lead going into the final two games.

Third-placed St Annes are the only side who can mathematically overhaul the top two following their three-wicket win at Fulwood and Broughton.

The hosts chose to bat and were all out for 130 in exactly 50 overs as Tom Higson took 4-42 from 17 overs and Matt Yeadon 3-35 off nine.

F&B plummeted from 63-2 to 79-7 before Rob Dingle provided late impetus with 47 from 45 balls (eight boundaries).

St Annes flirted with defeat at 41-5 and 82-7 (Jon Fenton 4-34 off 11) but lost no further wickets as Higson completed an excellent day with an unbeaten 42 from 48 balls. He shared an unbroken 52 stand with Thomas Bradley as St Annes won in 44.3 overs at 134-7.

Fleetwood suffered their second defeat of the weekend by six wickets at Morecambe.

Having chosen to bat, the visitors’ total of 127 from 43.1 overs owed almost everything to Neels Bergh’s 73 off 109 balls as Tommy Clough took 4-40 off 17 overs and Luke Jongwe 3-14 from 4.1.

Morecambe, who host Blackpool on Saturday, wrapped up the win at 128-4 in 44.4 overs, captain Ryan Pearson leading them home with an unbeaten 42 after putting on 63 for the fourth wicket with Peter Deeks (27).