Blackpool convincingly defeated second-placed Darwen at a sun-kissed Stanley Park on Sunday writes Gerry Wolstenholme.

They dismissed the free-scoring Darwen side for only 132 and then took only 39 overs to reach 135-5 and a five-wicket victory.

The win was set up by early inroads into the Darwen batting as the visitors subsided to 3-3 within four overs. Justin Kreusch bowled Chris Clarke for one and had Gareth Cordingley caught at slip by Paul Danson first ball and in between Steven Croft accounted for the League's leading professional who has over 800 league runs to his name for one. Atif Ashraf tried to pull a ball from Croft that was on him too quickly and he only succeeded in giving Michael Taylor a simple catch at mid-on.

Keith Semple, 34, and Chris Lowe, 20, added 51 for the fourth wicket before Luis Reece trapped the former leg before wicket and then with the total on 71 he had Lowe well caught by Michael Moore at backward point.

The middle order were quickly accounted for as Croft, on his way to 4-31, had Gary Jackson leg before wicket for 11 and bowled Yasim Patel for five. Michael Taylor had Neil Cordingley caught by Charles Boucher at slip for two and bowled Josh Clarke also for two before Andrew Mercer, 25 not out, and Andrew Cook, 12, put on 45 for the last wicket. The partnership was only ended when a direct hit from the deep by Kreusch ran out Cook and Darwen were all out for 132.

In their reply Blackpool lost Dave Newton for three at 14-1 but Boucher, 28, and Kreusch, 13, took the total to 46 before Boucher edged Semple to Josh Clarke behind the stumps and one run later Kreusch was bowled by Cook.

Gareth Cordingley gave Darwen a modicum of hope when he had Reece caught behind for 12 at 98-4 and then trapped Chris Taylor leg before wicket for three at 118-5. But Croft was in imperious form and he was 64 not out made from 78 balls with eight powerfully hit fours and Paul Danson was seven not out when Blackpool cruised home at 135-5.

It was a similar story at Broadwater on Saturday when Fleetwood defeated a lack-lustre Chorley side by six wickets.