LEYLAND were easily beaten at Fox Lane on a rain sodden pitch by seven wickets by Fleetwood.

Batting first, which their captain Mark Pallett decided to do, they lost their first wicket at 18 when Lee Heyes was bowled by Gregson for eight.

Craig Gardiner and professional Neil Rimmer took the score on to 39 before Rimmer was caught by Tony Hesketh off John Whalley for eight.

Three runs later Gardiner was stumped by Keith Riley off Whalley for 19.

Mark Pallett and Neil Kenyon restored the balance with a 42 runs partnership for the fourth wicket before Pallett was run out for 34.

Half the side were out for 90 when Kenyon was caught by Neil Gregson off Fleetwood professional Shawn Nicolson for 16.

Leyland then lost 3 wickets for only 9 runs before Steven Pallett and Lee "Jiggers" Jackson stopped the rot.

They featured in a 47 runs partnership for the 9th wicket before the latter was run out for 12.

Leyland's innings closed on 150 for 9, with Steve Pallett undefeated with 32 and Andy Arnott with two. Neil Gregson was the pick of the Fleetwood bowling attack, taking 3 for 35.

The visitors knocked off the required runs for victory for the loss of only three wickets, albeit surviving a shaky start when they were 4 for 2.

Shawn Nicolson and Tony Hesketh featured in a 135 runs partnership for the third wicket before Hesketh was run out by Neil Rimmer for 59.

Nicolson and Whalley were undefeated with 74 and 3 respectively when victory came for Fleetwood.

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