Morecambe 154-9 Darwen 157-4MORECAMBE were beaten by six wickets at Woodhill Lane by league leaders Darwen.

Put in to bat, Morecambe lost opener Nick Milner, bowled by Darwen professional Richard Petrie with only two runs on the board.

The home side were reeling at 28 for four, but Graeme Fisher and Tommy Clough redressed the balance with a 34 runs partnership for the fifth wicket before Fisher was lbw to Jeff Hacking for 15.

Then an excellent 70 runs partnership for the seventh wicket between John Eccles and Gulam Maje restored the balance.

Eccles was bowled by Petrie in his second spell for 42, perishing with the score on 134-7.

His innings included 2 fours and a six.

After his departure Maje was run out for 19 and five runs later Morecambe's innings terminated at 154-9.

In reply, Darwen's openers Gary Jackson and Graham Ainslie laid the foundation for victory with a 110 runs partnership for the first wicket.

Ainslie top scored with 75 and Jackson contributed 41.

Darwen only lost four wickets and the Cordingley brothers saw them home to victory.

The Spring Bank Holiday weekend brings two games in 48 hours.

Lancaster play hosts to Kendal at Lune Road on Saturday and should get points out of the fixture.

Morecambe have a more difficult game against Fleetwood at Woodhill Lane.

On Monday, Morecambe and Lancaster travel to Blackpool and Fleetwood respectively - and Morecambe have the easier match.

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