Blackpool 110-6 Leyland Motors 109

BLACKPOOL maintained their outside chance of the Northern Premier League Division One title with a four-wicket victory over Leyland Motors.

Motors batted first and were soon in trouble, losing both openers in the first six overs with only 12 runs on the board.

After 17 overs they were 35-4, but a fifth wicket stand of 35 doubled the score before the next wicket fell when professional Marcus Sharp captured his third victim.

From 70-5 Motors then slumped to 87-9 with former Blackpool captain and left-arm spinner Dave Higham -- a late replacement for the injured Mustafa -- taking all four wickets.

Motors were all out for 109, thanks to a last wicket stand of 22, and Higham finished with 5-32 while Sharp took 3-28. In reply, Blackpool had 27 on the board before Darren Walton was bowled for 13. Then two wickets fell in two balls and they slumped to 36-3.

But opener Martin Pickles steadied the ship with a vital knock of 48. He was bowled with the score at 87 and the target was eventually reached for the loss of one more wicket.