Tense finish

Chasing Morecambe's 210-6, to which South African professional Stephen Pope contributed a magnificent 132, they lost their ninth wicket at 167 with 15 balls remaining.

But wicketkeeper Martin Hackett and Jabir Namajee survived with all the fielders crouched round the bat and took Blackpool to safety at 173-9.

Morecambe were invited to take first knock and started slowly.

Fisher struck two boundaries before Marcus Sharp trapped him leg before wicket with the total on 18 and at 23 the professional struck again when he bowled Woodhead for 11.

That was Blackpool's last success for a further 86 runs as Pope and Leighton James put together a 76-minute partnership.

Pope started very sketchily and did not get off the mark for 13 balls.

He was constantly beaten by Cresswell, while James looked completely at sea, constantly trying, unsuccessfully, to work the ball off his legs.

But once Pope had got his eye in there was no stopping his explosive drives all round the ground; James took a back seat and the partnership flourished.

It ended at 109 when Sharp returned to bowl James for a laboured 16.

Cresswell then bowled Greenwood 4 and Maje two, to send Morecambe to 124-5.

Eccles then joined Pope and the pair smashed 73 runs in 23 minutes as Pope moved majestically to his century, having been dropped off a difficult overhead chance to Wiggans when on 50. He was missed again on 109 with an easier chance to Namajee and, finally, one ball before his dismissal when Bracewell dropped a difficult chance on the boundary.

Cresswell, surprisingly one of only three bowlers used, got his just reward next ball when Pope lofted him to Simmonite at long-off and departed for 132 made from 126 balls with 18 fours and three sixes.

Eccles finished on 27 not out as Morecambe gained maximum batting bonus points at 210-6.

In reply, Blackpool started confidently and Simmonite and Pickles put on 58 in 59 minutes before Pickles, who had earlier survived a confident appeal for a catch behind the wicket, was caught at mid-on for 19.

Bracewell, six, went quickly, caught and bowled by Maje and Wiggans committed cricketing suicide, going for a single which wasn't there and was run out for nought.

From 73-3 Simmonite and Cornall fashioned a 60 run partnership in 33 minutes which put Blackpool very much back in the game before the latter was leg before wicket to Jordan for an attacking 24. Danson, well forward and from a turning ball, was adjudged leg before wicket for four and at 157.

Blackpool's fading hopes died; Simmonite, 90 from 123 balls with nine fours and two sixes, perished in the chase for runs, caught in the deep by Greenwood off Eccles.

Thereafter it was an attempt to preserve wickets but Cresswell (1), Sharp (0) from successive balls and Moore on 10 all perished trying desperately to keep Morecambe at bay.

Finally it was left to Hackett and Namajee; the wicketkeeper edged a ball dangerously through the slips, both survived vehement leg before wicket appeals but they showed their character, secured the draw and earned Blackpool at least a modicum of respect.

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