"SHARP'S the word for toffee" was a successful advertising slogan in the 1950s and 1960s. But it was more a case of "Sharp's the word for cricket" at Stanley Park on Saturday when Blackpool's Marcus Sharp snapped up a hat-trick in the Vaux Northern League Division One game against Leyland.

Sharp had a return of 5-43, figures which included the third hat-trick of his career. He reduced Leyland to 133-9 from a rain-reduced 40 overs but in reply Blackpool did not capitalise on his performance to gain a much needed win and ended, once again desperately staving off defeat, at 123-9.

Leyland won the toss, surprisingly batted and Heyes and Gardiner put on 41 in 49 minutes without any sign of trouble before Gardiner slipped on the greasy surface and was run out for 16.

Professional Neil Rimmer did not last long as he drove at Sharp only to edge the ball behind to the dependable Pat Newell to be caught for one.

The score became 57-3 and 59-4 when John Kirkby struck twice; he had ex-Blackpool players Ian McDonnell caught by Newell for four and Swann, appropriately caught for a duck by Gavin Wiggans at short mid-wicket.

Lee Heyes and skipper Mark Pallett steadied the ship and added 43 in 20 minutes with Pallett's share being 22 from 20 balls including two huge sixes and a four before Higham trapped him on the sweep, leg before wicket.

Marcus Sharp then returned to the action and with the last two balls of the 35th over he bowled Kenyon, five, when he played all round a straight ball and bowled Simm round his legs first ball.

A single was taken off the next over from Higham before Sharp completed his hat-trick by having Heyes, 67 from 112 balls with three fours, well caught low down at short extra cover by Wiggans. It was Sharp's third career hat-trick, his other two coming at Bignell End where, ironically, they had also been from the final balls on an over and the first of his next.

From 118-8 Leyland managed to scramble a few more runs to close at a moderate 133-9, Jackson becoming Sharp's fifth wicket when clean bowled for two at 126.

Blackpool's reply began disastrously as Simmonite, three, was caught behind off Stephen Pallett with only nine on the board.

At 32, and just as the final 20 overs were about to start, Pickles, 17, drove loosely to deep mid-off where Jackson took the catch off left arm spinner Arnott. Chris Cornall and Gavin Wiggans took the score to 52 before the former was caught behind by Simm off Stephen Pallett for 25.

Sixty-five runs were required from the final 10 overs and Wiggans and Danson, having added 28 runs, looked as though they would carry Blackpool to victory.

But the turning point came when Wiggans, 18, rashly went down the track to Arnott and was bowled with Blackpool requiring 53 runs from eight overs.

Michael Moore was run out for three going for a desperate second run, Newell was caught behind for nought, Sharp was bowled by Stephen Pallett for three and Blackpool were suddenly 96-7.

Enter David Cresswell and in 10 balls he transformed the game.

He clubbed two fours and made 17 and together with Danson advanced the total to 120 when only 14 more runs were required from eight balls.

In stepped Stephen Pallett and bowled Cresswell and then repeated the dose for Higham with the very next ball to finish with an excellent 6-53.

John Kirkby survived another hat-trick and when Danson, who finished on a top score of 32 not out, took a single off the second ball of the final over, Kirkby had to stoutly defend to survive and earn Blackpool their fifth successive draw.

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