RAIN forced Blackpool to abandon their match against Lancaster at Lune Road at a delicately balanced position.

Blackpool needed only 42 runs for victory with five wickets and eight overs remaining when, for their second match in succession, rain stopped play.

Put into bat, Lancaster lost their first wicket at 12 when Ian Parkinson was bowled by Darren Walton for five.

David Heywood and professional Gareth Breese then plundered the Blackpool bowling attack to all parts of the ground.

They added 118 runs for the second wicket before Breese was caught by Marcus Sharp off Walton for an aggressive 54.

Heywood and Phil Dennison took the score onto 167 before the latter was bowled by Walton for 18.

Seven runs later, Heywood was bowled by Rudra Singh, Lancashire's cricket development officer, for a solid 80 runs. Lancaster lost their fifth wickets at 179 when Luke Phillips was then out for three.

David Derham and Lee Marshall were undefeated with 14 and 12 when Lancaster's innings closed.

In reply, Blackpool were reeling at 14-2 before Mark Lomas and Richard Lamb restored the balance with a third wicket partnership of 89 before Lamb was caught by David Heywood off Phil Dennison for 35.

Blackpool lost their fourth wicket at 134 when Rudra Singh was dismissed in identical fashion for 13.

Half the Blackpool side were dismissed for 153 when Robin Bracewell was run out for four.

Six runs later the match was abandoned with Lomas 84 not out, and Paul Dawson not out on two.