Blackpool went down by 53 runs on their visit to Preston in the Northern Premier Cricket League.

The home side racked up 180 for 8 from their 50 overs which saw some excellent bowling from Blackpool's Luke Melville (4 for 17).

In reply, Blackpool could only manage 127 all out as several batsmen made a start but no one went on to post a score which would have put the side within challenging distance of Preston.

Elsewhere, St Annes skittled out their hosts Darwen for just 107 with Saeed Anwar taking 7 for 62 from his 21.4 overs.

But remarkably they fell 16 runs short in their reply as they collapsed to be all out in 36 overs with former Lancashire and England all-rounder Ian Austin top scoring with 28.

John Coultas (54) and Nick Whalley (73) managed to get Fleetwood to a healthy total of 221 in their game against Barrow. But a magnificent 132 from Pasan Wanasinghe saw the Cumbrian side reach their target with just three balls to spare.

Thomas Blundell gave Fleetwood hope by dismissing Wanasinghe near the end but Daryl Wearing (22 not out) saw Barrow home.