THWAITES Lancashire Cup holders Netherfield took their place in the last eight of this year's competition with a 64-run victory over Blackburn-based opponents Cherry Tree in a rain-affected match at Parkside Road on Sunday.

Opener Tommy Prime was the mainstay of Netherfield's innings, making 60 and sharing good partnerships with Craig Walmsley and Jimmy Moyes to enable his side to reach 162-5 off a reduced 35 overs.

Cherry Tree soon knew their fate in reply, losing both openers without a run on the board and slumping to 14-4 by the eighth over.

Under Lancashire Cup rules in a rain-affected tie the side batting second have wickets docked depending on the overs lost and Cherry Tree could only afford to lose eight.

They struggled to rebuild from their poor position but kept Netherfield waiting until the 28th over before they were all out for 98, with David Wheatman taking

3-11.

The reward is a home tie against Leigh in the quarter-finals, the tie to be played in the next three weeks.

It was a great weekend for Netherfield as they went back to the top of the Bay Northern Premier League by beating Darwen by 63 runs on Saturday.

Professional Pieter Strydom held the innings together with his second century for the club and found fine support from Stuart Horne, whose contribution of 29 meant that between them the pair supplied 131 out of a score of 160 all out.

Darwen were no match for the visitors' opening pace- bowling partnership of Scott Clement (5-26) and David Wheatman (3-23) and were all out for 97 with nine overs of the innings remaining.

Kendal hosted new leaders Morecambe on Saturday and the weather took a hand in the match.

The visitors made 238 all out with Pakistani professional Mazumdar top-scoring with 92 and his compatriot Kendal professional Kabir Khan taking 5-64.

Kendal looked to be struggling at 22-2 when the rain wiped out further play.