PRESTON lost their ninth league match of the season when Darwen the current league champions beat them by five wickets.

Manoj Parekh, captaining the home side during Tony Hesketh's absence to manage Lancashire City Football Club won the toss, and elected to bat Antony Mann and Preston's professional Scott Henderson put on 15 runs before the latter was caught by Mark Emery in the gulley off Darwen professional Keith Semple for eleven. On three runs later, and Antony Mann was adjudged lbw to the same bowler for six.

Paul Paynter and Munaf Bavla redressed the balance with a 31-run partnership before they both departed to leave Preston 49-4. Bavla was caught behind by Graham Parkinson off Jamie Nichol for eleven and Paynter was trapped lbw by Darwen acting captain, Gareth Cordingley for sixteen.

Half the Preston side were dismissed for 53 when James Anyon was lbw to Nichol without opening his account.

Six runs later, Glen Johnstone the former Preston North End goalkeeper was caught off a skier by Dominic Heys for five which gave Gareth Cordingley his second wicket.

Paul Greenwood and Manoj Parekh took the score on to 83 before Parekh was stumped by Parkinson off Chris Lowe for eighteen.

Greenwood and Jabir Namajee featured in a 40 runs partnership for the eighth wicket before Greenwood was bowled by Andrew Mercer in his second spell for 30. He batted 108 minutes, and hit three fours. The last two Preston wickets only produced three runs which left Namajee not out 22. Preston did not use two of their allotted 61 overs.

In reply, the Darwen openers, Mark Hadfield and Mark Bennett gave their side a solid foundation with a 37 runs partnership.

James Anyon coming on as first-change bowler to replace Julian Edwards had Bennett caught behind by Glen Johnstone for nineteen in the eleventh over. Then the turning point of the game occurred when Manoj Parekh dropped Darwen professional Keith Semple off Anyon before he had score a run.

The second Darwen wicket fell at 69 when Mark Hadfield was caught behind by Johnstone off Edwards for 20.

Darwen lost their next three wickets for 19 including the wicket of Semple who was lbw to Edwards for 31. His cameo of an innings included four fours.

Nevertheless, Chris Lowe and Andrew Mercer shared an unbroken sixth wicket partnership of 41 runs which brought Darwen their ninth victory of the season but they are still 11 points behind league leaders, Netherfield with seven matches to play.

Andrew Mercer remained unbeaten with 26, and Chris Lowe with 13. Mercer played an aggressive innings and in 25 minutes he his five fours.

Julian Edwards took 3-34 from nine overs but the Preston attack lacked consistency and seven no-balls and a wide were bowled in 31.5 overs.

This Saturday (August 5), Preston have a slightly easier task when they travel to Lune Road to play Lancaster.

Final score: Preston 126 v Darwen 129-5.