DAF lost to St Annes by seven wickets at Sandy Lane.

Put in to bat Leyland DAF were reduced to four for two when both their openers, James Aspinall and Neil Dasgupta, were dismissed respectively by Dave Callaghan and Steven Twist.

Only seven runs later and DAF professional Stephen John was caught by Gareth Evans for six to become Twist's second victim.

The fourth wicket fell at 19 when Ansar Afsar was caught behind by Duncan Whalley off Twist for three. Half the side were dismissed for 27 when Alan Richardson was caught by Steven Twist off St Annes professional Dave Callaghan for a single.

Ben Henderson and Alex Totham added 23 runs for the sixth wicket before Totham was caught by Russ Bradley off Twist for two. He had been content to play a supporting role to Henderson.

Ben Henderson was next out with the score on 65. He batted 53 minutes and hit six fours before being caught by Adrian Darlington off first change bowler, Joe Davies for an aggressive 34.

Wicket-keeper Phil Iddon and DAF captain David Makinson added 22 runs for the eighth wicket before the former was bowled by Davies for eight. Ironically, Makinson departed at the same score which left DAF reeling at 87-9. He was caught behind by Whalley off Callaghan for sixteen. The last pair of Iqbal Liley and Sifton Prince only added four more runs before Prince was caught by Twist off Callaghan for one. This left Liley unbeaten with three.

Dave Callaghan returned the superb bowling figures of 4-25 from 15.2 overs, while Joe Davies chipped in with 2-7 from six overs.

St Annes openers, Adrian Darlington and Gareth Evans laid the foundation for victory with a 48 runs partnership before Evans was caught behind by Iddon off John for 28. He batted 63 minutes, and hit five fours.

DAF came back into contention when they reduced St Annes to 49-3 as the visitors lost two wickets at the same score. Adrian Darlington was caught behind by Iddon off Prince for sixteen, and St Annes captain, Russ Bradley was caught by John off Prince for nought.

But an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 43 between Callaghan and Twist saw St Annes home to victory.

The mainstay of the partnership was Twist who made 23. He batted 41 minutes and hit five fours, while Callaghan made 18.

This Saturday (August 5) , DAF have a very tough fixture when they travel to Birch Hall to play Darwen. The home side are the current league champions and are 11 points behind Netherfield who are top of the table.

Final score: Leyland DAF 91 v St Annes 92-3.