Blackpool move within one win of Finals Day
Craig Outram got Blackpool's innings off to a rapid start |
Blackpool moved to within one game of the Latham Baxendale Twenty20 Cup Finals Day after a nerve-wracking 3 runs victory over St Annes at a sun-kissed Stanley Park.
Paul Danson's men will ensure their place at the league's showpiece occasion if they can beat Fleetwood in their final game in North One group at Stanley Park. But Fleetwood will qualify for Finals Day if they can beat St Annes and Blackpool in their final group games. St Annes' hopes, meanwhile, hang by a thread.
Five days after St Annes prevailed in a thrilling game at Vernon Road by 7 runs the tables were turned as Blackpool successfully defended what looked a below par total of 133 for 7.
Blackpool pro Nimesh Perera top-scored with 44 |
Craig Outram gave Blackpool a good base with 32 off 24 balls in an opening stand of 48 in six overs with Alex Smith. But Blackpool's innings lost momentum after Outram was bowled by Charles Boucher for 32 and they relied upon pro Nimesh Perera, who steadily accumulated 44 off 37 balls with three boundaries for posting a competitive total.
St Annes pro Dinuka Hettiarachchi bowled four overs at the death and returned four for 20 in a masterly display.
Atiq Uz-Zaman skies Mike Tidmas before being caught by Nimesh Perera |
Mike Tidmas struck two early blows for Blackpool, bowling Duncan Whalley and having Atiq Uz-Zaman superbly caught backward of point by Perera.
Boucher was bowled by Andy Hogarth for 16 and Hettiarachchi run out by Blackpool wicketkeeper Rob Sissons after a mix-up with Stephen Twist to leave St Annes 55 for 4.
But Twist looked in prime form and added 49 with David Bartholomew before he was bowled by Richard Gleeson in the 16th over with his side 30 runs short of victory.
Bartholomew hit 33 off 22 balls and seemed set to lead his side over the finishing line until he was run out by the impressive Sissons.
St Annes needed 14 off the last two overs but Gleeson now had his tail up and bowled superbly in the penultimate over, claiming the wickets of St Annes skipper Andy Kellett and Matt Grindley and seeing Paul Wilks run out by Alex Smith.
The last pair of Nick Jones and Luke Wilks needed 13 off the last over, bowled by Steven Mercer but the challenge of needing six off the last ball proved just beyond the valiant Jones as a superb game finished in the gloaming at 9-09pm.
St Annes' Stephen Twist sweeps Blackpool's Steven Mercer |
SCORES:
Blackpool 133 for 7 (N Perera 44, D Hettiarachchi 4 for 20), St Annes 130 for 9
