By Michael Latham
After Saturday's complete wash-out of the league programme, the weather relented sufficiently for Preston Cricket Club to enjoy a double cup success on Sunday.
Preston's First XI reached the final of the Furness Building Society Cup after a six wickets victory over Blackpool at West Cliff.
And the club's Second XI reached the second division league cup final after a resounding ten wickets win at Barrow.
The remaining Furness Building Society Cup quarter-final tie between Morecambe and Kendal was ruined by the weather with the Woodhill Lane ground waterlogged and a bowl-out was necessary to determine a result.
Morecambe won the bowl-out 2-1 and will now host Leyland in the Furness Building Society Cup semi-final next Sunday.
The winners of that semi-final will host Preston in the Furness Building Society Cup Final on Sunday 31 August.
Preston will host the second division final on Sunday 7 September. Their opponents will be either Morecambe, Kendal or Darwen.
The Kendal-Morecambe second round tie has still not been played and the league executive will rule on that tie at their meeting this week. Darwen await the winners in the semi-final.
At West Cliff Preston skipper Glenn Johnstone invited Blackpool to bat and his decision to bowl out Lukman Vahaluwala for his full eight over spell paid full dividends.
Vahaluwala returned figures of 5 for 23 including a spell of three wickets in four balls.
Though opener Adrian Darlington stood firm Vahaluwala wreaked havoc with the Blackpool top order after pro Bilal Asad had captured the wicket of Alex Smith.
Vahaluwala had four LBW decisions in his favour, accounting for Dave Newton, professional Saj Weerakoon, Chris Taylor and Steven Mercer before clean-bowling Blackpool skipper Paul Danson.
Blackpool skipper Paul Danson is bowled by Lukman Vahaluwala |
From the wreckage of 47 for 6 in the 14th over Darlington helped build a recovery with help from Michael Taylor (21) and James Smith (12 not out).
Darlington was eventually eighth man out, caught by Bilal Asad off Manoj Parekh for 61 (scored off 88 balls including four boundaries) to leave Blackpool 120 for 8 in the 36th over.
Adrian Darlington bolstered the Blackpool innings with 61 |
Blackpool's Chris Taylor is adjudged LBW to Lukman Vahaluwala |
Thanks largely to Smith the visitors reached 133 until Luke Melville was stumped off Parekh in the last over.
Veteran Parekh, a late call-up to the Preston side after Rhys Williams's late withdrawal, took 3 for 20.
Preston made a disastrous start losing Sajid Patel to the first ball of their innings, caught behind off Richard Gleeson.
But Bilal Asad settled into play a responsible innings and the Preston professional saw his side home with a superb 70 not out off 84 balls including six fours and two sixes.
Asad reached his 50 with a huge six off Richard Gleeson and hit Michael Taylor for a second six to finish the game in grand style.
Bilal Asad steered Preston home with 70 not out |
Munaf Bavla (23), Vahaluwala (12) and Yasin Patel (12) supported their professional as Preston reached their target in the 34th over.
