PRESTON suffered a double blow on Saturday as Darwen knocked them out of the Slater Cup and their professional suffered a broken finger.

Darwen chose to bat on a good track at Birch Hall and amassed 173 runs from the allotted 40 overs.

Professional Keith Semple and leading amateur Gareth Cordingley put on 93 for the third wicket partnership.

Semple top scored with an undefeated 87 while Gareth scored 30 from just 45 balls.

The Preston batting faced a Darwen bowling attack back at its very best as Hacking, Semple, Nicol and the Cordingley brothers tied them down from the first ball.

Neil Cordingley topped the table, taking two for 16 from his eight overs. Preston finished 62 short of the target when part bowler Horsfield took the final wicket.

Darwen seconds started their defence of the Latus Trophy with a 12 run victory over Preston thanks to telling contributions from Sharples (36) and Grant (30) with the bat and Cook's three wickets.

Hacking took two for 22 as did Gareth Cordingley.

Only three batsmen got into double figures as wickets fell steadily throughout the innings.

from just 123 balls, including ten fours and one six,

that sees him sidelined for the rest of the season.

DARWEN

G Jackson b Anyon...13

M Hadfield b Shah...9

K Semple not out...87

G Cordingley run out...30

J Cordingley not out...9

Extras...25

Total (3wkts)...173

Bowling: J Anyon 8-2-27-1; P Richardson 8-2-30-0; R Akbar 6-1-17-0; D Shah 8-2-10-1; R Shah 8-0-52-0; R Dixon 1-0-11-0; A Mann 1-0-11-0.

PRESTON

A Mann c Jackson b Hacking...5

J Anyon c Nichol b Semple...21

R Shah lbw G Cordingley...7

P Richardson b G Cordingley...20

P Shah c Hacking b Nicol...20

P Paynter b N Cordingley...3

T Hesketh c Hacking b N Cordingley...3

G Johnstone not out...6

P Mann b Semple...6

R Dixon c N Cordingley b Horsfield...3

Akbar...injured

Extras...17

Total (9wkts)...111

Bowling: K Semple 8-2-22-2; J Hacking 7-2-18-1; G Cordingley 8-1-22-2; N Cordingley 8-2-16-2; J Nicol 8-1-27-1; M Horsfield 0.2-0-0-1.