BLACKPOOL'S nemesis in the National Knockout Cup struck again on Sunday when Chorley despatched them from the competition in the Regional Final, writes Gerry Wolstenholme.

Blackpool made 136 all out in their 45 overs and Chorley replied with 137-5 to win by five wickets.

Blackpool's early batting faltered against some tidy Chorley bowling and three wickets were lost for 33 runs by the 13th over.

Makeshift opener Marcus Sharp (nought) and Richard Lamb (eight) were both caught by Rex Purnell and Mark Lomas (five) was well caught at slip by Nigel Heaton off Iqbal Patel.

Martin Pickles provided the bulk of the Blackpool total with 41, made from 91 balls with two of the innings' seven fours to his credit. He was fourth out at 69 in the 21st over when he pulled Ian Oakes straight to Purnell at deep square leg.

The remainder of the innings comprised a struggle by Paul Danson to keep the scoreboard ticking over, and some late runs from Darren Walton and Chris Barrow. Danson had made 22 having been at the crease for 27 overs when he was caught and bowled by Mawdsley.

A diving Roland Horridge superbly caught Walton at extra cover for 14 and Barrow had made 13 when Heaton bowled him from the final ball of the innings. Stephen Croft made three, David Bartholomew five, Gavin Armstrong one and Martin Hackett three not out, but Blackpool's 136 was not the challenging total that they had been seeking.

Chorley's reply stuttered at the outset. It was 64-4 in the 23rd over as Sharp had Patel caught close in by Armstrong for three, Neil Bannister was splendidly caught by Armstrong in the gully for 12, Nigel Heaton was caught and bowled by Bartholomew for four and Fazackerley was bowled by Sharp for four.

While wickets were falling at the other end, Horridge was keeping the scoreboard moving by despatching the bad balls, of which there were many. He had made 41 when Walton trapped him leg before wicket, and at 77-5 there was just a glimmer of hope for Blackpool.

But it was not to be there for long as England Under-15 selection Tom Smith, and the experienced Neil Senior, saw off some tricky overs from Sharp before taking the runs from the other bowlers that gave Chorley the win.

Walton bowled 10 wides, including four in one over, and Smith with four boundaries in his 24 not out, and Senior with five in his 29 not out, ensured Chorley proceeded to the last 16 of the competition.