DARWEN moved into the semi final of the Nuffield Cup thanks to a close fought victory at Fleetwood on Sunday.

After winning the toss, Darwen elected to bat and Horsfield and Lowe got them off to a positive start, adding 29 for the first wicket before Lowe fell to Laird. Semple soon followed before John Cordingley and Horsfield started to pick the run rate up, adding 33 in just seven overs before Horsfield fell to Pryor for 41 with the score on 89.

Neil Cordingley then came to the crease and hit a majestic 44 to help the total on to a respectable 174 from the allotted 45 overs. There were also positive contributions from his brother John and Graeme Parkinson.

The Fleetwood reply got off to a very good start and the Darwen total soon appeared under threat as Wright and Denning put on a quick 47 before Denning was brilliantly run out by Semple for 23. Wright soon followed as Hacking snapped up two for 5 from his first five overs.

Fleetwood kept the runs coming as Pryor, Coultas and Willis made telling contributions. The Darwen bowling and fielding was a match for the pressure and with Fleetwood requiring just seven runs from the last over with five wickets in hand the game could have gone either way. Enter captain Jeff Hacking who bowled an impeccable over, taking the wicket of Dewhurst and restricting Fleetwood to just two runs to see Darwen home by five.

It was a different story in the league at Birch Hall on Saturday as Darwen were eventually saved from defeat at the hands of St Annes by the rain.

St Annes chose to bat first and went on to score a very impressive 212 -6 from 60 overs with professional Dave Callaghan hitting an undefeated 93. The pick of the Darwen bowlers was once again acting captain Neil Cordingley, who took four wickets, taking his tally to 14 from the last three games.

Despite a steady start the Darwen innings seemed to hit the rocks when Lowe fell to Callaghan for 20, he was soon followed by four more Darwen batsmen. Only Jackson offered any spirited resistance remaining there on 26 not out as the rains came to prevent further play.

Darwen seconds comfortably moved into the semi final of the Blackledge Trophy on Sunday, thanks to a 39 run victory over Fleetwood. Hadfield's 50 and Ainslie's 76 were the star turns of a real all round team performance.