Fylde coast cricket preview: Lytham look at two areas for improvement this year

Having moved over from the Liverpool and District Cricket Competition, the Church Road club’s NPCL debut ended with defeat to division one champions Kendal last weekend.

They travel to Penwortham on Saturday, facing a home team who lost their first match at Euxton.

New grounds and opposition make it something of a learning curve for Lytham, though the first XI captain believes certain factors will greatly help with their adaptation process.

Norris explained: “In the first team last year, we used 17 players at home but 36 away.

“If you use 17 home and away, you back yourself to do well; we only lost two games at home (to Hightown St Marys and Sefton Park) but, away from home, we drew two and lost the rest.

“When you have got a good core to the team and consistency of selection, you’re going to do well.”

Another area for improvement is with the bat after a year of ups and downs in the middle.

Lytham’s batters only scored more than 200 in five league and cup games during the 2025 season.

They were also unable to reach 100 in five matches, with three of those collapses coming in consecutive matches last June.

“The obvious one is Sefton Park where we got rolled over for 69,” Norris added.

“With a good bowling performance, we then had them 11-5 but Paul Horton came in and took the game away from us.

“We know we’re going into a results-driven season. Last season, we had to search for wickets to get the points. This year, it’s who gets the most runs wins the game.”

SATURDAY

NPCL 40 Over Cup (12.30pm): Barrow v Thornton Cleveleys, Fleetwood v Netherfield, Garstang v Blackpool, Great Eccleston v Carlisle, Penwortham v Lytham, St Annes v Euxton.

Palace Shield Championship (1pm): Fylde v Lancaster.

Palace Shield Division One (1pm): Blackpool 2 v Leyland 2, Kirkham and Wesham v Withnell Fold, Rufford v Fleetwood 2.

SUNDAY

ECB National Club Championship (1pm): Blackpool v New Brighton, St Annes v Cheetham Hill United