LOW pressure on the weather map translated into high pressure for the batsmen at the crease before Netherfield wrung six league points out of a rain-soaked clash with Fleetwood. writes Richard Daniels.

Five stoppages for rain, all but one of them in the Netherfield's innings, spoiled any spectacle and stretched out play until the clock showed almost half past eight.

After Saturday's disrupted programme, Morecambe lead the way in the Northenr Premier League with two wins out of two as they and Chorley were the only sides to record victories.

Three matches started only to be abandoned.

On winning the toss at Parkside Road, Fleetwood inserted the home side and Hill moved the ball past Craig Walmsley's straight bat with only six on the board.

Professional Pieter Strydom joined Gareth White and Fleetwood failed to follow-up by dropping several catches in the next half a dozen overs, including the Strydom to a low caught-and-bowled chance.

Scoring was painfully difficult on slow outfield with the ball stopping dead when going to ground and even the cleanest strokes struggled to reach the ropes.

After steering his way to 11 from 50 balls, White was tempted by a lifter and pulled it straight to Fleetwood's new professional Lloyd Ferreira, a compatriot of Strydom's, at mid-wicket.

Strydom himself warmed to his work and brought up his half-century with a four over cover before the rain intervened for the third time.

Threequarters of an hour r and r' allowed Fleetwood's pace bowlers return with a new-found zip and Strydom's urgency to put runs on the board led to his downfall, bowled for 68 with the score

on 102.

Four wickets fell for two runs as replacement Rish Girdhari was stumped next ball by the Lancashire U17 keeper James Ellis and then Chris Parry and Tommy Prime were both caught in the slips.

Netherfield had reached 115 for six when the weather closed in again and ended their innings in the 45th over.

Fleetwood started their reply knowing they had to reach the target in just 25 overs and a first-wicket stand of 53 off 10 overs put them firmly on course.

After another break costing fours overs, Fleetwood had to make haste and Netherfield removed opener John Wright, run out for 45 at the non-striker's end thanks to Strydom's direct hit from gully.

Like Netherfield, Fleetwood crumbled under pressure as three wickets went for two runs, including danger-man Ferreira caught by Chris Parry on the cover boundary, for nine.

It left Fleetwood needing 44 off six overs and the seventh-wicket pair of Denning and Taylor made a valiant but vain effort, taking them to within 11 runs of victory to finish at 105 for six.

May 2, 2003 09:00