IT was very much a case of too little too late for Blackpool in their Vaux Samson first round cup tie at Lancaster on Saturday (May 15).

Chasing the home side's 45-over total of 180-5, Blackpool's top order was demolished for 51 runs and only David Bartholomew and Paul Danson, batting at numbers seven and eight respectively, restored any seaside pride with scores of 65 not out and 22.

After their valiant efforts, extras, with 16 was the next highest contributor to Blackpool poor response of 149-9 which meant defeat by 31 runs.

Lancaster opened slowly against accurate bowling from Sharp and Singh and the total had only reached 39 in the 15th over when the oft-retired David Higham struck with the first wicket.

He had Dennison (13) well caught by Pickles off a skier and then he struck again in the 25th over when Lancaster's Pakistani professional Raj Hans lofted a return catch to the bowler when he made 12 and the Lancaster total was 67.

Opener David Heywood went serenely on and after he and Brian Phillips had added 62 in 14 overs, he was caught in the deep off Jabir Namajee for 45.

Parkinson struck a quick 10 before Bartholomew stumped him off Namajee and Phillips was bowled by Sharp off the last ball of the innings having made a spirited 47 from 64 balls with one six and one four.

The Lancaster total of 180-5 was greatly helped by Blackpool's generosity in gifting them 33 extras, which included 16 wides on a pitch which seemed to encourage the wide ball as the wickets appeared not to be in line with each other.

Blackpool's reply began disastrously and got worse.

Cornall (five) and Armstrong (nought) both perished to loose strokes, caught by Heywood at short mid-wicket off the bowling of Jolleys and Barnes respectively.

Bracewell (three), paid the penalty of offering no stroke to Hans and was adjusted leg before wicket and Pickles, who was beginning to look assured for his 12, went fately back to a ball from Jolleys which bowled him.

Skipper Rudra Singh (11) holed out to Phillips off Hans and when a bogged-down Namajee was leg before wicket to Hans for six Blackpool were in free fall mode at 51-6, with Hans returning an excellent 3-13 from nine overs.

Paul Danson and David Bartholomew then set about putting some respectability in the score and they did the job so well that while they were at the wicket Blackpool's chances of victory were always there.

But after the pair had added 52 in only 11 overs, Danson attempted to force the pace and was well caught by Parkinson at long off for 22.

Marcus Sharp (five) and David Cresswell (four) kept Bartholomew company as he tried to keep Blackpool in the game and they stayed while a further 46 runs were added.

But once Sharp was caught at deep point and Cresswell run out, Bartholomew, an excellent 65 not out from 52 balls with six fours, was obliged to play out the last over to leave Blackpool at 149-9 defeated by 31 runs, just two less than the number of extras that they conceded.

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