Fylde coast cricket round-up: Blackpool snatch a semi-final spot on a dramatic final day

Needing a win to have any chance of making the last four, Blackpool actually finished top of the elite gold B table.

That was as a result of their win against previous leaders Chorley, while the other game between Netherfield and Fulwood and Broughton was abandoned.

Blackpool opted to bat first at Windsor Park, where they made 172-6 from their 40 overs thanks to half-centuries from Dylan Henshall (60) and Josh Boyne (51).

The Blackpool bowlers then set to work, Chris Baines claiming 5-14 as Chorley were all out for 95.

St Annes picked up a consolation victory in the gold A section with a seven-run win against Leyland.

Neither side could progress to the last four after losing their previous two outings so it was all about pride when the two sides met at Vernon Road.

St Annes opted to bat first and were all out for 129 with nine balls remaining of their 40 overs.

Ben Reader top-scored with 41 for St Annes, whose bowlers ensured victory by dismissing Leyland for 122, Tom Higson taking 3-8.

Fleetwood’s hopes of progressing from the silver A group ended with a seven-run defeat against Eccleston.

After their visitors chose to bat first, Fleetwood dismissed them for 104 in the 35th over.

Six bowlers shared the workload with four of them – James Amor, Scott Whittaker, Declan Clerkin and Jack Wilkisnon – taking two each.

In reply, Fleetwood were all out for 97 in an innings dominated by Adam Sharrocks.

He was left 48 not out as the rest of the batting collapsed around him with two late run outs summing up their day.

Great Eccleston took second spot ahead of Fleetwood and Eccleston on runs/wickets differential despite losing to group winners Lancaster.

Will Thistlethwaite’s 72 helped Great Ecc to 217-7 but Steven Fisher’s 83 underpinned the Lancaster reply of 218-8 which gave them victory.

Lytham finished off their silver B campaign with a four-wicket win against Euxton.

Having asked Euxton to bat first, Lytham dismissed them for 101 with one ball left of their 40 overs.

Euxton had reached 23-0 before losing five wickets for 12 runs on their way to 35-5 and then 63-8.

Thomas Hessey picked up 3-24 for Lytham while it was number 10 batsman Rizwan Patel who top-scored for Euxton with 17 not out.

Lytham’s reply saw them within sight of victory at 93-2 before the departure of Hessey (33) saw them lose four wickets for five runs.

However, they eased to 102-6 for their first win of the second group stage.