DARWEN entertained Leyland Motors in the Northern Premier League on Saturday and the result reflected a damp and dismal afternoon at Birch Hall.

After a delayed start the home side ripped into the Leyland batsmen and professional Keith Semple finished with 5-27 and captain Jeff Hacking 5-54 ensured the visitors were restricted to 84 all out. The Leyland innings closed with Keith Semple taking an outstanding one-handed caught and bowled.

Darwen were confident of victory, but their innings never really go going and in the fading gloom were restricted to 59-7 with the game petering out into a draw. Only Gary Jackson (26) managed to come to terms with the conditions.

This result leaves Darwen struggling to finish in the top four, which would result in automatic qualification for the Lancashire Cup.

SCORECARDS:

DARWEN 59-7

LEYLAND MOTORS 84

Darwen 4 pts

Leyland Motors 5 pts

LEYLAND MOTORS

M Howarth c Parkinson b Semple ... 3

J Aspinwall b Hacking ... 10

A Afsar c Jackson b Hacking ... 14

S Catterall lbw Hacking ... 0

N Eddleston b Hacking ... 20

S John c Parkinson b Semple ... 8

T Cunnings lbw Semple ... 11

P Iddon b Semple ... 0

M Baines b Hacking ... 8

J Lilley c and b Semple ... 6

S Prince not out ... 0

Extras ... 4

Total (all out) ... 84

Bowling: K Semple 16-3-27-5; J Hacking 15-3-54-5

DARWEN

G Jackson c Iddon b John ... 26

M Hadfield c Eddleston b John ... 0

K Semple c Iddon b John ... 11

G Cordingley c Catterall b John ... 7

J Cordingley c Iddon b Prince ...0

N Cordingley not out ... 5

J Hacking b Prince ... 1

G Parkinson b Prince ... 0

M Horsfield not out ... 1

Extras ... 8

Total (7 wkts) ... 59

Bowling: S John 14-3-22-4; I Lilley 7-2-25-0; S Prince 6-3-4-3