IT was a case of third time lucky for the Lancashire Knock-Out Cup tie between Fulwood & Broughton and Fleetwood at Fulwood on Sunday (July 11) as the previous two attempts to play the game had been aborted because if inclement weather.

This time the sun shone, the game ran its course and Fleetwood came out worthy winners and continued their march towards the Old Trafford final.

Fulwood's 169-7 was a noteworthy effort against some tidy bowling, but Fleetwood's superior batting power saw them home for a six wicket win with 171-4 in 43 of their 45 overs.

Fulwood lost three wickets by the time the total had reached 34 in the 16th over.

Kippax, one, was smartly taken by Hesketh at slip off King.

Whalley, nine, was caught behind by Riley off Nicolson and Cooper, 10, was athletically caught and bowled by Nicolson.

Dave Irvine, 33, and Chris Gunn, 54, then put on 62 in 14 overs for the fourth wicket before Irvine was bowled by Nicolson.

Dave Lee hit a quick 14 with one six and one four before Tony Poxon uprooted his off stump, John Mansford pulled a huge six off King on his way to making 11 before John Whalley bowled him.

Then Gunn, who had been dropped off by Hesketh when 20 and whose 54 had come from 79 balls and included one six and three fours, was caught by Coultas from the bowling of Whalley.

Shane Martin and Agar scampered a further 19 before the Fulwood innings closed at 169-7 with Fleetwood professional Shawn Nicolson being the most successful bowler with 3-31.

Fleetwood's reply began in grand style as John Wright and Nicolson plundered 40 from the first seven overs.

Nicolson, eight including one magnificent pulled six into the adjacent tennis courts, then fell to catch on the deep mid-wicket boundary off Mansford.

Clinning came to the wicket and started most uncertainly but Wright continued blazing away at the other end and the total had reached 83 and Wright 47, from 64 balls with seven fours, before he fell leg before wicket to Mansford.

Nick Coultas, who hit a rapid 22 with one six and three fours, was the next to go as Gunn held on to a skier with the total on 121.

A disappointed skipper Tony Hesketh was caught behind for nought off Simon Martin before Dave Latus came in and, with Clinning, took Fleetwood comfortably home. Clinning ended on 47 not out and Latus 22 not out including the game winning six and three fours from only 22 balls.

Fleetwood now meet Sefton Park of the Liverpool Competition in the next round at Broadwater - probably on August 25 - and the side are now hot favourites to lift the trophy.

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