ST ANNES lost their Vaux Bitter Cup first round match at Vernon Road on Saturday by 37 runs to league leaders Darwen.

Put in to bat by Russ Bradley, Darwen had a firm foundation with a first wicket partnership of 64 between Graeme Ainslie and Chris Lowe.

Ainslie was run out for 23.

Lowe and Darwen professional Richard Petrie took the score on to 120 before the latter was caught by Adrian Darlington off David Taylor for 40.

He batted 39 minutes, faced 46 balls and hit 6 fours.

Chris Lowe and Gareth Cordingley featured in a third wicket partnership of 71 runs before the former was stumped by Duncan Whalley off Sean Bickerdike for 71.

He batted 104 minutes, faced 94 balls and hit 8 fours.

His 50 came off 73 balls.

The visitors lost their fourth wicket at 224 when Gareth Cordingley was bowled by Sean Bickerdike for 45.

He batted 52 minutes, faced 39 balls and hit one six and three fours.

Darwen finished on 233-4 off their allotted 40 overs.

Jeff Hacking remained unbeaten with 25 and Neil Cordingley with one not out.

In only 17 minutes Hacking hit one six and one four off 18 balls.

St Annes made a determined effort to go for the runs as Adrian Darlington and Steven Twist put on 54 runs for the first wicket.

The latter was caught by Neil Cordingley off Jeff Hacking for 15.

Seven runs later Darlington was caught by Chris Lowe off Gareth Cordingley for 39.

He batted 61 minutes, faced 49 balls and hit 3 fours.

St Annes professional Dave Callaghan and Russ Bradley featured in a 40 runs partnership for the third wicket before Bradley was caught by Horsefield off Jeff Hacking for 19.

Half the St Annes side were dismissed for 161 when Callaghan was caught by Andrew Mercer off Neil Cordingley for 60.

Fifteen runs later wicket-keeper Duncan Whalley was bowled by Mercer for six.

At the close of their innings St Annes were 196-6.

Sean Bickerdike was undefeated with 26 and Joe Davies was on 15.

Bickerdike batted 37 minutes, faced 19 balls and hit one six and two fours, while Davies batted 15 minutes and faced 15 balls.

Callaghan, who top scored with 60, batted 77 minutes, faced 68 balls and hit 6 fours.

Darwen now face Morecambe at Birch Hall in the second round on Sunday, August 1.

Returning to the league programme this Saturday, St Annes travel to Windsor Park to play third-placed Chorley.

They will have to play to their full potential if they wish to win this game and return to winning ways.

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