BLACKPOOL 145-7 PRESTON 86 TAKING a respite from League action, Preston lost for the third time this season to Blackpool.

Preston captain and professional Manoh Parekh won the toss and put the visitors in to bat.

It appeared a prudent decision when Blackpool were reeling at 5 for 3.

Nevertheless, Paul Simmonite and Paul Danson steadied the innings with a 34 runs partnership for the fourth wicket before the former was stumped by Paul Mann off 17-year-old leg-spinner Atul Sachdeva for six.

Danson and Chris Cornall restored the balance with a vital 45 run partnership for the fifth wicket before the latter was run out for 28.

Teenager Michael Moore and Danson consolidated Blackpool's innings with a 30 runs partnership for the sixth wicket, before Danson was caught behind by Paul Mann off fourth change bowler Ben Harrison for an aggressive 62.

Nineteen-year-old Michael Moore and wicket-keeper Pat Newell took the score on to 140 before Newell was run out for 17.

Manoh Parekh bowled superbly and from his allotted 8 overs took 2 for 6.

In reply, Preston started badly when Ben Harrison was caught by Gavin Wiggans at mid-off from Blackpool's opening bowler David Cresswell for two.

Preston lost their next two wickets at 14 when Antony Mann was trapped lbw by Robin Bracewell for 5 and Paul Paynter was bowled by John Kirkby for six.

Asif Bukhari and Glen Johnstone restored the balance with a 26 runs partnership for the fourth wicket before Johnstone was bowled by Sharp for sixteen.

Half the Preston team were dismissed for a pathetic 46 when Bukhari was bowled by Danson for 14.

Only 7 runs were added before Paul Greenwood was bowled by Bracewell for two and Preston were reeling at 56 for 7 when Parekh was caught by Simmonite off Bracewell for 7 at mid-wicket.

The ninth Preston wicket fell at 76 when Sachdeva was lbw to Sharp for eleven.

Paul Mann and Iqbal Lilley delayed the inevitable by adding ten for the last wicket before Lilley was bowled by Pickles for nought.

In the end Blackpool had used 9 different bowlers in a farcical end to the game.

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