Darwen remain unbeaten but went ever so close to what would have been a second win of the campaign against reigning champions Leyland at Birch Hall.

The home side made 135-7 in their 38 overs, skipper John Cordingley making a hard-hitting unbeaten 40 off only 30 balls with four fours and one six.

Elder brother Gareth Cordingley hit 24 as the middle order helped Darwen as Leyland’s Luis Reece claimed 4-65, including the wicket of his Lancashire Academy team-mate Alex Davies for 19.

Leyland were never in the hunt as they replied with Neil Cordingley bowling superbly on his way to figures of 5-23 off 19 accurate overs but Leyland dug in to earn a share of the spoils, closing on 99-8.

Elsewhere, St Annes took over the league leadership after beating Barrow, while overnight leaders Netherfield lost at Morecambe.

Netherfield borrowed East Lancs pro Ockert Erasmus – but he was wicketless as Morecambe’s Anwar Ali hit 58 to take his new side to 179-8. Erasmus made 71 not out with the bat – but Netherfield’s next best score was 12 as they crashed to 131 all out with Ali claiming 4-47.

Darwen
J Clarke c Rounding b Pelser 9
A Davies LBW Reece 14
Zaman Khan LBW Reece 19
C Clarke c Rounding b Pelser 8
N Cordingley LBW Reece 6
G Cordingley c Rounding b Reece 24
J Cordingley Not Out 40
K Anwar c Fisher b Pelser 2
N Burke Not Out 3
Extras 10
Total (7 wickets, 38 overs) 135.

Brett Pelser 15 4 46 3, Luis Reece 19 3 65 4, Peter Cummings 4 1 18 0.

Leyland
L Reece b Bhamji 24
C Parkinson b N Cordingley 0
A Coates b N Cordingley 4
Pelser LBW N Cordingley 22
K Cross LBW Bhamji 2
A Makinson Not Out 22
D Fisher c Bhamji b N Cordingley 3
J Rounding c J Clarke b Anwar 1 P Cummings c Anwar b N Cordingley 17
D Makinson Not Out 2
Extras 2
Total (8 wickets, 38 overs) 99.

K Anwar 12 2 52 1, N Cordingley 19 10 23 5, Y Bhamji 7 0 23 2.

Darwen winning draw.