PRESTON remain entrenched at the bottom of the league after their three wickets defeat by Blackpool at West Cliff.

Preston made a disastrous start when John Fleetwood and Paul Mann were dismissed by Marcus Sharp without a run on the board.

The third wicket fell at 13 when Antony Mann was caught for seven by Malcolm Hackett off Sharp.

Three runs later, Preston captain Manoj Parekh became Sharp's fourth victim.

Half the Preston side were dismissed for 28 when Atul Sachdeva was caught by David Cresswell off Sharp for six.

Lee Kearsley and Bill Druce shared a 34-run partnership for the sixth wicket before the former gave Cresswell his second catch off Sharp for 13.

Paul Paynter and Paul Greenwood added 48 runs for the eighth wicket before Greenwood was bowled by Cresswell for 18.

Paul Paynter was undefeated with 27 and Ben Harrison with 3.

Blackpool professional Marcus Sharp bowled 25 consecutive overs to take 7 for 44.

Blackpool opening batsman Martin Pickles was caught by Jon Fleetwood off Iqbal Lilley without scoring.

Paul Simmonite and Ian McDonnell added 26 for the second wicket before Simmonite was caught by Lee Kearsley off Ben Harrison for 20.

The third Blackpool wicket fell at 47 when McDonnell was run out for 13.

Gavin Wiggans and Robin Bracewell had a fourth wicket partnership of 44 before Harrison trapped Bracewell lbw.

Blackpool lost another 3 wickets before Paul Danson struck the winning runs. Seventeen-year-old Ben Harrison scored 3 for 33.

Leyland suffered their first defeat of the season when they were beaten by league champions Netherfield at Parkside Road by five wickets.

Leyland were dismissed for 69 in the 37th over, with opening bowler David Wheatman taking 4 for 22 and Craig Atkins 3 for 9.

Netherfield only took 20 overs to win with Zander De Bruyn undefeated with 31, and Craig Atkins with 24.

Leyland Daf featured in a losing draw at Sandy Lane against Morecambe.

The visitors made 197 for 8 off their allotted 50 overs, with professional Steven Pope top scoring with 96.

Wicket-keeper Charlie Williams and Alan Murray stopped the rot with an unbroken 8th wicket partnership of 43.

Williams and Murray remained undefeated with 24 and 31 respectively.

This week in the first round of the Vaux Samson Cup.

Preston travel to St Annes, Leyland to Morecambe, while Leyland Daf entertain Darwen.

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