Fylde coast cricket review: Blackpool's derby day delight as Fleetwood continue to shine

Saturday’s division one derby in the Northern Premier Cricket League saw Blackpool return to winning ways at St Annes.

After an abandonment at Longridge and defeat to Netherfield in their previous two games, Ben Howarth’s players were seven-wicket winners at Vernon Road.

St Annes had opted to bat first and were bowled out for 196.

Zain Abbas and Jack Trohear put on 50 for their third wicket but the former’s dismissal for 69 saw them slump from 102-2 to 133-6.

Both fell to Geeth Kumara (5-45), though late resistance was provided by Alex Urquhart (27), Ethan Hill (15) and Ryan Birkman (12).

In reply, Blackpool eased to victory by reaching 197-3 in 44.1 overs.

Howarth (25) and Kasim Munir (23) added 51 for the first wicket but their dismissals, along with that of Kumara (13) left them 74-3.

That was as good as it got for St Annes, however, as Andrew Needham (75 not out) and Josh Boyne (61 not out) added an unbroken stand of 123.

In division two, Fleetwood made it 10 wins in as many completed games after beating Fulwood and Broughton in the clash of the top two at Broadwater.

The hosts overhauled their visitors’ 209-8 with 11 balls remaining to open up a 12-point gap between the clubs.

F&B began positively, choosing to bat and reaching 162-2 as Ben Rosbottom made 72 and Charlie Rossiter 50.

Wickets then began to fall more regularly and, from 200-4, they quickly lost four more as Hassan Mughal took 4-48.

Four Fleetwood players then failed to score but wicketkeeper Harry McAleer (73) and Jeremy Davies (41) held the reply together before Mughal’s unbeaten 28 saw them home.

Thornton Cleveleys pulled further clear of the bottom two, winning by seven runs at Penwortham.

The visitors posted 209-7, the platform provided by an opening stand of 73 between captain Josh Sackfield (58) and Josh Borrell (24).

The hosts also started solidly in reply as Jonathon Hothersall (40) shared 70 with Robbie Sumner (39).

Connor Brown top-scored with 42 but after his exit left Penwortham 175-6, they couldn’t build another partnership and fell short at 202-9.

Lytham were defeated, losing by four runs off the last ball at Barrow.

The hosts batted first and were dismissed for 246, a total dominated by Hardus Coetzer who struck 123 as Sabbir Patel took 4-62 and Sahaan Sahaan 4-72.

Lytham’s reply saw half-centuries for Sahaan (56) and Myles Child (52), while Archie Banks-Smith (46), Ben Saunders (28) and Ed Fiddler (27) also contributed.

However, having been 207-4, wickets fell regularly which left them needing a boundary from the final delivery to match Barrow’s total.

James Livesey was run out instead with Lytham dismissed for 242.

Great Eccleston lost a high-scoring game with Carnforth by 53 runs.

Jaco Beneke’s 95 helped Carnforth post 300-7 before Great Ecc were dismissed for 247, Mohammed Fazil hitting 85.

In the Palace Shield Championship, Fylde were nine-wicket winners over Penrith.

Having bowled out their visitors for 146, Fylde posted 150-1 with Chris Watkinson 59 not out and George Dolan 52 not out.

Kirkham and Wesham defeated Penwortham’s seconds by three wickets in division one.

Having restricted Penwortham to 190-9, K&W responded with 196-7 as Theo Cunliffe (79 not out) and Ryan Galligan (46 not out) put on 87.