ST ANNES 219-2 DARWEN 115-3

RAIN brought an early ending to the proceedings at Vernon Road as the visitors required 105 runs to win with seven wickets remaining.

Darwen won the toss and put St Annes in to bat.

Adrian Darlington and Eldine Baptiste featured in their highest opening partnership of the season.

They added 141 runs before Baptiste was caught behind by Braithwaite off Andrew Mercer for 70.

His innings lasted 95 minutes.

Darlington and Chris Harrison put on 45 runs for the second wicket before the latter was stumped by Neil Braithwaite off Darwen's Australian professional and Lancashire coach Peter Sleep for 20.

Darlington and Russ Bradley featured in an unbroken third wicket partnership of 33 before the St Annes innings closed on 219-2 off their allotted 50 overs.

Darlington carried his bat for 103.

His innings lasted 138 minutes as he faced 125 balls and hit 12 fours. Russ Bradley remained undefeated with 18.

St Annes got a dream start when Paul O'Sullivan had Darwen's professional Peter Sleep caught by Eldine Baptiste for six, which left the visitors 8 for one.

Darwen lost their second wicket at 19 when Chris Lowe was trapped lbw by Baptiste for six.

Then opener Nigel Robbins and Gareth Cordingley redressed the balance with a 79 runs partnership for the third wicket, before Robbins was caught behind by Duncan Whalley off Baptiste for 29.

When the rain came Darwen had moved on to 115 for 3, with Gareth Cordingley 46 not out and Graham Ainslie 5 not out.

The St Annes captain Brian Tennant had utilised five different bowlers, including himself, but been unable to take any more of the visitors' wickets.

This Saturday sees St Annes travel away to face bottom club Preston, so a victory should be on the cards.

But they must not take the opposition lightly, remembering that last Saturday Fleetwood only beat them by two wickets.

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