​Leyland defeat to Blackpool adds further twist to title race

​Karl Cross’ men suffered chastening experience at Blackpool where they were thrashed by 136 runs.

Blackpool piled on 256-9 before dismissing the visitors for 120 with 8.2 overs left.

Dylan Henshall hit 10 boundaries in his 60. However, the best was yet to come as Joshua Boyne scored 79 and shared a stand of 128 with Matt Taaffe (49).

Andrew Jacques took 4-73 for Leyland but the key bowling contribution came from Blackpool professional Ockert Erasmus, who took 6-32.

Captain Karl Cross (26) was alone in reaching 20 for Leyland.

Chorley suffered a six-wicket defeat at home to Carlisle to deepen their relegation worries.

A total of 124 was never going to be enough as Bill Purdham took 5-39. Luca Doyle's 35 at least steered the hosts to three figures.

A stand of 80 between Michael Slack (47 not out) and Oliver Spedding (40) saw them wrap up victory with 11.2 overs to spare.

Garstang’s titles hopes were dealt a blow as they lost by four wickets at bottom club Settle.

The visitors were dismissed for 218. Nisanth Nithian hitting 40, while the top scorer was captain Ian Walling, who made 55.

Settle’s reply began positively as John Davidson made 70 and shared 120 for the second wicket with Zane Nirodi (61).

The latter's dismissal triggered a stumble from 174-2 to 175-5 but Settle regained their composure and victory was sealed with four overs remaining.

Longridge were well beaten at new leaders Netherfield by 149 runs..

The Cumbrians posted an imposing 267-4 after opener Reece Irving (69) and Ben Barrow (67) put on 95 for the second wicket.

Skipper Barrow then added a further 67 with John Huck, who fired 59 from 40 balls.

Longridge couldn't get halfway to their target in reply, falling for 118 with 18.3 overs still remaining. Josh Mullin scored 45.

Fulwood & Broughton and Euxton remain locked in a battle for promotion in the NPCL Division Two.

With Fleetwood seemingly on course to lift the title with five games left, the race to secure the second promotion spot remains firmly in the melting pot.

F&B are second, but only four points ahead of Euxton. They were narrow two-wicket victors at Whalley in a low-scoring contest.

Kashif Jamil took 5-38 as the hosts were dismissed for 112. In reply, F&B were in trouble at 73-7 – the top four contributing just 12 runs between them.

However, Clayton Stone’s 33, including two sixes, proved crucial. Jon Fenton’s stoic unbeaten 15 off 71 deliveries edged his men over the line.

Euxton battled to a hard-earned 14-run home win over Lytham.

Josh Boyden made 55 in their 167-8 and Nishan Peiris then took 5-36 from 15 overs, including the wicket of top scorer Ben Saunders for 32, as Lytham were dismissed for 153.

A superb 130-run partnership between Connor Brown (80 not out) and Matt Halliday (76) saw Penwortham chase down Great Eccleston 213-7. Brown hard earlier shared six wickets with skipper Natham Walmsley.

Preston were thrashed by nine wickets at West Cliff by Barrow. Navazish Ali scored 41 but their score of 133 all out was nowhere near enough.

​Torrisholme hold the second promotion spot in the Palace Shield Championship after their seven-wicket victory at Eccleston.

The Lancaster club made light work of chasing down their hosts' 127 inside 20 overs.

Ecc did well to post that total after slipping from 31-1 to 52-5 as Irfan Qayyum removed all of the top three on his way to 4-34. Top scorer Sam Norris was Irfan's other victim for 34.

Torrisholme wrapped up a comfortable win at 128-3 as Sam Brown carried his bat for 36, having shared 50 for the opening wicket with James Pyle (31).

It was a day to forget for Vernon Carus who were well beaten at home by Netherfield 2nds.

James Royce struck 83 as the visitors posted 215-8. Fraser Young took four wickets. In reply, Vernons were all out for 140 with Jamie Rigby’s 36 the top score.

Garstang 2nds lost by 61 runs at home to Mawdesley despite four wickets for Josh Woodhead and Ernie Collinson’s 49 with the bat.