DARWEN'S hopes of a Northern League win at the seaside were foiled by dogged Morecambe on Saturday as the runs flowed at Woodhill Lane.

On a glorious day at Morecambe, Darwen were put in to bat by Mark Woodhead – but the Morecambe skipper's decision backfired as the Towers performed magnificently against the pace of former Colne professional Anwar Ali.

Alex Davies and Niall Burke put on 129 for the first wicket – and that effort set the base for a big score.

Burke made 68 from 95 balls before being bowled by Ali while Davies made 65 from 106 deliveries before he too perished to Ali.

Professional Mohammad Zaman Khan then plundered 54 from just 40 balls and Kamran Anwar clattered 42 from 27 balls as Darwen racked up 260-5 from their 50 overs.

Ali finished with 4-97 from 17 overs but a win for the home side was unlikely.

Former Blackpool goalkeeper Lewis Edge hit an impressive 69 off 74 balls and Phil Dennison 61 off 84 balls, the pair sharing a third wicket stand of 86, while Ali (27) and Alex Thistlethwaite (31) kept up the momentum but Morecambe closed on 228-7.

Anwar rounded off a good personal day with 4-60.

Darwen

A Davies LBW Ali 65
N Burke b Ali 68
Zaman Khan Not Out 54
C Clarke b Williams 11
N Cordingley ct Cupit b Ali 1
K Anwar ct Thistlethwaite b Ali 42
J Cordingley Not Out 1
Extras 18
Total (5 wickets, 50 overs) 260.

Ali 17 2 97 4, J Gates 8 1 24 0, R Cupit 8 1 26 0, T Clough 7 1 34 0, C Williams 10 0 64 1.

Morecambe

J Dixon ct J Clarke b Anwar 1
L Edge b C Clarke 69
C Williams b Anwar 4
P Dennison ct J Clarke b Anwar 61
Ali LBW Anwar 27
A Thistlethwaite LBW Zaman Khan 31
D Welbourne b Zaman Khan 13
M Woodhead Not Out 7
T Clough Not Out 4
Extras 11
Total (7 wickets, 50 overs) 228.

K Anwar 14 3 60 4, N Cordingley 12 2 56 0, N Burke 2 0 16 0, Zaman Khan 15 1 52 2, C Clarke 6 0 33 1, A Davies 1 0 4 0.

Winning draw to Darwen