ST ANNES have narrowed the gap on league leaders Darwen because rain brought an early abandonment in the East Lancashire side's home game against Blackpool.

They only collected four points, whereas St Annes got 12 after their three wickets win over Lancaster at Vernon Road.

St Annes now trail Darwen by 14 points.

Returning to last Saturday (June 12), Russell Bradley won the toss and put the vistors in to bat.

Lancaster made 182-9 from their allotted 50 overs.

Opener Phil Dennison top scored with 45.

His innings included 5 fours.

Wicket-keeper Brendan Hetherington was lbw to Dave Callaghan on the last ball of the Lancaster innings.

Callaghan was the pick of the St Annes bowling attack with 4 for 33 from 18 overs.

In reply, St Annes made a eventful start when Adrian Darlington was lbw to Dave Jolleys without a run on the board.

Dave Callaghan and Russ Bradley steadied the reply with a 78-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Bradley made 42 in 77 minutes off 70 balls and his innings included 4 fours. Unfortunately, half the St Annes team were dismissed for 139 when Callaghan was bowled by Grahan Barnes for 77.

He batted 147 minutes, faced 118 balls and hit 9 fours.

Wicket-keeper Duncan Whalley kept his head down and when he departed with the score on 174-7 St Annes only required nine runs for victory.

They acheived this with eight balls remaining.

Adam Cotton was undefeated with 11 and Joe Davies didn't open his account.

Congratulations to Joe Davies who made his debut for Leicestershire Seconds against Glamorgan this week at Hinckley.

Looking forward to this Saturday, St Annes have a local derby against Blackpool at Vernon Road.

They should win this one, but Blackpool have a useful opening pace attack in professional Marcus Sharp and Lancashire development officer Rudra Singh.

Nevertherless, St Annes have a stronger all-round side in batting and bowling.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.