Fylde coast cricket review: Blackpool and Fleetwood pick up NPCL 40 Over Cup wins

Blackpool and Fleetwood boosted their hopes of qualification for the Northern Premier Cricket League’s 40 Over Cup knockout stages with weekend wins.

Both clubs were victorious in the penultimate round of group games, which saw Blackpool in seventh place after beating Penwortham by 195 runs.

Openers Kasim Munir (75) and Dylan Henshall (85) put on 179 as Blackpool made 265-6 after batting first at Stanley Park.

Josh Boyne added 41 not out from 31 balls before Blackpool dismissed their visitors for 70, Ockert Erasmus claiming 4-6.

Fleetwood are eighth following their thumping 215-run win at Carnforth.

Professional Muhammed Hurraira had his best day yet for Fleetwood, scoring 133 from 103 balls out of their 294-7.

The Pakistani fired seven sixes among 20 boundaries, sharing 74 with Charlie Clark (13) before being fifth out.

It followed another 74 stand for the opening wicket between Tomas King (60) and Jeremy Davies (30).

Carnforth had no answer and were dismissed for 79 inside 16 overs as Davies claimed 5-20 from 4.5.

However, Thornton Cleveleys’ hopes look to have been dashed by a nine-wicket defeat at home to Garstang.

The hosts were dismissed for 86 in 28 overs before Garstang eased to 87-1 in 13.4.

TC soon regretted their choice to bat as Garstang pro Lahiru Madushanka struck twice to leave them 2-2 before they fell to 30-6.

Josh Rolinson (28) showed the most resistance before an unbroken second-wicket stand of 59 between Joseph Pearson (36 not out) and Michael Walling (21 not out) saw Garstang home.

They stand sixth but a third defeat out of five leaves TC 17th.

St Annes lost for the third time in five with a 58-run defeat at Netherfield, who saw Reece Irving (91) and John Huck (138) put on 148 for the third wicket in their 294-4.

Huck hit 10 sixes and nine boundaries in his innings, which comprised 79 balls, as Rory Urquhart took 2-52.

St Annes’ response saw them finish on 236-8, Zain Abbas making 87 from 68 deliveries.

Lytham sit second-bottom after a fifth loss in as many games as they went down by seven wickets to Settle.

Having batted first, Lytham fell to 48-5 before recovering to 198-8, thanks to Guy Roberts’ 89 not out.

He added 47 with Stewart Davison (25) and 66 with Ryan Norris (31) before Settle posted 199-3 inside 33 overs.

Gautam Waghela hit 88 not out from 53 balls, having put on 104 for the third wicket with Zane Nirodi (52).

Great Eccleston are bottom, also with five defeats in five, after losing by three wickets at Euxton.

Matt Moat (32) top-scored as Great Ecc finished on 130-7 before the hosts recovered from 32-5 to reach 134-7, Jack Shovelton 44 not out.

Elsewhere, Fylde were well beaten in their Palace Shield Championship match at Lancaster.

The hosts opted to bat first and compiled 224-5, led by opener Dan Woods’ 64.

Fylde were bundled out for 107 in reply, giving Lancaster victory by 117 runs.

Kirkham and Wesham lost by two wickets at Withnell Fold as third played fourth in division one.

Asked to bat first, K&W were all out for 109: an innings dominated by Jack Mansfield’s 66.

Theo Cunliffe (5-65) helped reduce Withnell Fold to 80-8 in reply, only for the hosts to reach 111-8.