DARWEN's sensational start to the cricket season continued this weekend with a 39 run league victory over Preston to put Darwen 18 points clear at the top of the table followed on Sunday with a thrilling last ball win against Morecambe in the Vaux Samson Cup as Darwen reached the semi-finals and a trip to local rivals Chorley, who had a bye.

Against Preston, Darwen reached a formidable 194-7 thanks to a splendid third wicket stand of 111 between Gareth Cordingley (46) and professional Richard Petrie (74).

A comfortable victory seemed a formality as Preston slumped to 44-4 but good middle order resistance came from Parekh (48) and Johnston (47) before the Birch Hall boys got the breakthrough and skipper Geoff Hacking and Paul Rodden tore through the tail to take five wickets in five overs to achieve victory with five overs to spare.

On Sunday, 85 from Gareth Cordingley, backed with 54 not out from Petrie, held cancel out an Ashwell prince century for Morecambe which included seven sixes.

Chorley were not extended to defeat bottom of the table Leyland DAF by nine wickets at Windsor Park. Australian professional Josh Marquet ripped through DAF's top order, taking four for 31, and slow left armer Rex Purnell knocked up the tail with 3-24 as DAF closed on 145-9. In reply, Neil Bannister and Roland Horridge compiled an untroubled second wicket partnership of 148.

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