Blackpool decided to bat and no sooner had they taken the crease than Mercer knocked over Caunce's stumps with the first ball of the match. Keith Semple then dismissed Simcock in his first over to leave the in-form Steven Croft and Lomas to try to repair the damage.

The pair added 83 before Lomas (35) was out to a sharp caught and bowled by John Cordingley. Croft held the remainder of the innings together to take his score to 83 before he became Semple's second victim. The Blackpool innings eventually finished on 161 for 7.

The Darwen reply got off to the worst possible start with Jackson, Hadfield and Semple all back in the pavilion with only 18 runs on the board.

Enter Gareth Cordingley and captain Chris Lowe, who then proceeded to take Darwen comfortably past the target. Cordingley finished on 81 not out and Lowe on 64.

Darwen seconds' outstanding run of form continues as they picked up 9 points from their winning draw to Blackpool on Saturday. Darwen's heroes were Bonner (50) and Chatterton (45) as they amassed 225 for 6 declared.

ON Sunday Darwen lost their Thwaites Cup encounter by just 16 runs in a high-scoring game at Kendal.

Kendal chose to bat first and openers Little and South put together a partnership of 89 before Gareth Cordingley struck to dismiss Little for 37. Mercer then came back into the attack to have South caught by Horsfield for 48. Darwen were then able to restrict the Kendal batting until Howarth (44) and Khan (38 not out) added a quick 41.

The Kendal innings closed on 223 for 6 with only Cordingley and Horsfield making any impression with the bowling.

The Darwen reply got off to a steady start with Jackson (37) and Horsfield (23) adding 54 for the first wicket. Darwen then looked in trouble at 85 for 3 before Gareth Cordingley put together two solid partnerships of 53 and 66 with Lowe (21) and his brother John (32).

Then the Darwen innings collapsed in the most dramatic style as they went from 204-4 to 207 all out in the space of nine balls with Khan cleaning up the innings taking three wickets in four balls.

Darwen seconds secured their second successive victory in the tournament with a 21 run win over Kendal seconds.