Fylde coast cricket preview: Blackpool aim to seal semi-final spot at earliest opportunity

Having started the second group stage with a 41-run Stanley Park victory over Netherfield, a further win at Fulwood and Broughton tomorrow could seal a top-two finish for Blackpool in the four-team group, with a visit to Chorley still to come.

Blackpool ended the initial group stage on a low note, dismissed for 34 by Thornton Cleveleys, but still qualified for an elite ‘gold’ group, in which they bounced back well as Tomas King scored 82 from 76 balls and took two Netherfield wickets.

Captain Paul Danson told The Gazette: “We’ve had some good wins and one really bad defeat but now we have a chance to progress again.”

Fulwood and Broughton lost to Chorley last week after winning all five games in their local group, and tomorrow’s trip to Preston will be the furthest Blackpool have travelled for a game this summer.

Danson (below) added: “It will be more like a home game for quite a few of our lads. They were unbeaten until last week and it will be tough. We tweaked one or two things after Thornton Cleveleys and I got the response I asked for.

“Winning is all about performance and the standout last week was Tom, and everyone else batted around him.”

Blackpool are due to head back up the M55 on Monday for a T20 quarter-final at Garstang but rain could disrupt the holiday weekend’s programme.

In Saturday’s other ‘gold’ group, Garstang visit St Annes who are looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season at Morecambe. Garstang won their opener against Leyland.

There’s a Fylde derby in the silver section as Fleetwood face Great Eccleston. Ecc were winners over near namesakes Eccleston in Chorley last week as Fleetwood lost to Lancaster. Lytham make the longest trip by any of the Fylde’s senior sides so far when they visit Kendal, having lost their opener to Longridge.

Thornton Cleveleys host Pemberton seeking back-to-back wins in the bronze competition after routing Preston by 10 wickets.

At level two, South Shore welcome Leyland 2, while the seconds of Lytham and Great Eccleston are also at home.

Tomorrow’s fixtures

Level One Gold A: St Annes v Garstang, Leyland v Morecambe

Gold B: Fulwood and Broughton v Blackpool, Netherfield v Chorley

Silver A: Fleetwood v Great Eccleston, Eccleston v Lancaster

Silver B: Kendal v Lytham, Longridge v Euxton

Bronze: Thornton Cleveleys v Penwortham, Preston v Kirkham and Wesham

Level 2 Gold: South Shore v Leyland 2, Hoghton v Fleetwood 2

Silver: Rufford v Fylde, Whittle and Clayton-le-Woods v St Annes 2.

Bronze: Great Eccleston 2 v Garstang 2, Lytham 2 v Netherfield 2

Level 3 Gold: Blackpool 3 v Euxton 2

Silver: Charnock St James v Thornton Cleveleys 2

Bronze: Wrea Green v Preston 2

Level 4 Gold: Wyre v Walton-le-Dale 2, Darwen 3 v Wrea Green 2, Kirkham & Wesham 2 v Hoghton 2, Withnell Fold 2 v South Shore 2

Silver: Norcross v Wyre 2, Fylde 2 v Charnock St James 2, BAC/EE Preston 2 v Blackpool 4