RAIN came to the rescue of St Annes at Morecambe after they had collapsed from 104-1 to an inadequate 177-9.

Darlington (32), Evans (48) and Bickerdike (37) were St Annes' top scorers, but pro Dave Callaghan could only manage 15 before he was lbw to Stephens who finished with 6-58.

St Annes pace bowler Banks bowled Morecambe's opener Woodhead with the score at 59 and Callaghan immediately claimed another wicket but, with 24 overs left, the home side were cruising with seven wickets in hand and needing 71 to win.

Then the heavens opened leaving Morecambe stranded at 117-3, and the game was drawn.

If St Annes Fourths had bowled as well as they batted they would probably have been in the Wareing Cup Final instead of Blackpool. They made first use of a rain-affected track and progressed carefully after the early loss of Atherton. Mick Auty grafted sensibly for his 21 and then the acceleration came as Roger Hughes (69 not out) joined Nigel Connolly (75). They added 132 and must surely have thought they had given the bowlers enough to work with as the St Annes innings closed on 200-4.

But Blackpool simply raced away in the face of some ordinary bowling and had reached 86 in 12 overs. Ed Mahon was dropped off a tough chance before he had scored, and then three more times before finally falling for 97 to Jon Ellis's second fine catch of the game. Blackpool completed a seven-wicket victory with a score of 201.