DARWEN could only draw an exciting match against Blackpool at Stanley Park whilst title rivals St Annes won at Lancaster.

Due to a delayed start the rules decreed that whilst Blackpool could face 33 overs, Darwen would only receive 24 overs in reply and the Birch Hall side were only eight runs short of victory at the end.

Splendid Darwen bowling reduced the Seasiders to 50-6 and a victory seemed certain, but a fine unbeaten half century from David Bracewell including a six off the final ball which was to prove crucial, saw Blackpool to 114-7 and left Darwen an asking rate of five an over.

After a slow start and loss of early wickets, the required rate rose to seven an over and 64 were needed from the last 10. Professional Richard Petrie led his side to the brink of victory with an unbeaten 43, but the chance went when Michael Douglas was caught on the long off boundary in a valiant attempt to clear the ropes and left Darwen sharing the lead with St Annes for the first time this season.

Opening batsman Russell Cake was in superb form for Chorley over the weekend hitting two half centuries which enabled his side to cruise into the final of thee Vaux Bitter Cup yesterday and take eight points from a winning draw against Fleetwood in the Northern League on Saturday. In the cup semi final Chorley dismissed Kendal at Shap Road for 118, left arm paceman Iqbal Patel claiming 3-14.

An opening stand of 109 between Cake and Neil Bannister took Chorley to the brink of victory in only 28 overs, Cake's scintillating 72 containing 10 boundaries. Bannister finished on 39 not out.

In the final on Sunday, August 29, Chorley will meet Morecambe who defeated Blackpool in the other semi final.

At Windsor Park on Saturday, Cake made 55 and Jim Fazackerley 32, in Chorley's total of 187-8. Fleetwood's Neil Gregson bowled unchanged to take 5-68 from 24 overs.

The Fleetwood innings was undermined by young leg spinner John Greaves, who took three wickets in four balls to leave the visitors on 73-5. But South African professional Sean Nicholson (64) and Jim Whalley (31) put on 58 for the sixth wicket to keep hopes of victory alive until both were dismissed by the lively Patel, who finished with 4-39. But Fleetwood's last pair survived 14 deliveries to force a draw on 150-9.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.