At a blisteringly hot Stanley Park on Saturday Blackpool found the later Leyland batsmen too stubborn and could not force a win despite scoring 196-8 in their 50 overs.

Leyland held on for the draw with 167-8 as Blackpool crowded the ninth wicket pair but could not break through.

David Newton was out early for Blackpool when he was adjudged leg before wicket to Brian Tennant for one but Charles Boucher and Justin Kreusch took the total to 53 before the former edged James Wright to wicketkeeper Stuart Parker after he had made 33.

Youngster Luis Reece then helped Kreusch add 100 runs for the third wicket before a slower ball from professional Adam Parker deceived Reece and he was caught by Shaun Dunk at mid-on and had gone for an excellent 40 made from 71 balls with one four.

After Michael Taylor had also fallen to Parker, caught at short mid-wicket before he had scored, Kreusch was fifth out at 173 when Zubir Patel bowled him with one that kept low.

He had made a sparkling 84 from 76 balls with 10 fours.

The rest of the innings was a procession back to the pavilion as Patel and Adam Parker dismissed the lower order for the addition of only 11 runs.

It was left to Michael Moore and Richard Gleeson, both of whom made nine, to take the total to 196-8 as Adam Parker finished with 3-45 and Patel 3-30.

Leyland lost wickets steadily to all of the Blackpool bowlers and it was only an eighth wicket partnership of 48 by the two Parkers, Stuart who made 12 and Adam who finished with a fine 73 not out from 69 balls with 11 fours.

He was joined by Dunk who made seven not out and prevented the predatory Blackpool fielders from claiming the last two wickets as Leyland closed on 167-8. Kreusch had 3-59, Reece 3-24, Gleeson 1-38 and Andy Armstrong 1-15.