Fylde coast cricket preview: Lytham CC’s fate lies in their own hands as a dramatic final day awaits
Four teams aim to avoid relegation on the final day of the NPCL division two season this weekend.
Ryan Norris is happy Lytham CC’s fate remains in their hands going into Saturday’s final day of the season.
Lytham’s debut year in the Northern Premier Cricket League hasn’t gone to plan as they are one of four teams who could still drop from division two.
Norris’ players sit eighth in the table with 119 points, two clear of Preston, Thornton Cleveleys and Carnforth who occupy the second relegation place.
Bottom club Great Eccleston host Lytham, while Preston look to have the toughest task as they entertain promotion-chasing Fulwood and Broughton.
The Lytham skipper said: “It’s not what we wanted as a season but it is what is and it’s in our own hands, that’s the main thing.
“It’s very tight obviously but with us going to Great Eccleston, who have already been relegated, people would expect us to come away with the points which would see us survive.
“We don’t expect to go there and win but we want to go there and win.
“Having played there in previous years, you can get 120 and win or get 300 and lose, it just depends on things like the wicket and the size of the boundaries.”
Lytham have lost exactly two-thirds of their games, with 14 defeats in 21: a total only exceeded by Great Eccleston with 15.
What they have done well, however, is pick up bonus points, with the division’s highest batting points tally of 24 coming amid a number of narrow defeats.
“We’ve lost something like six games by fewer than 20 runs,” Norris added.
“On the flip side, the positive thing is we’re picking up those very important bonus points.
“Sometimes you can be in a losing position but get that first batting point, which we’ve done very well when we’ve been in a position where we feel we can’t win the game.”
SATURDAY
Northern Premier Cricket League Second Division (12pm): Fleetwood v Euxton, Great Eccleston v Lytham, Morecambe v Thornton Cleveleys.
Palace Shield Championship (12.30pm): Fylde v Mawdesley.
Palace Shield First Division (12.30pm): Blackpool 2 v Fleetwood 2, Kirkham and Wesham v Croston.