A CENTURY from Netherfield professional Dale Benkenstein could not prevent the club's lead at the top of the Northern Premier League being halved on Saturday.

Benkenstein, who averages above 50, hit 125 - that elusive first century for the club - out of a total of 241-5 against Blackpool at Parkside.

Blackpool were never seriously in the hunt for the runs, but Netherfield could not winkle out the last two wickets for a victory at the visitors finished on 143-8.

Netherfield picked up 10 points for the winning draw, which, with second-placed Fleetwood winning, cut their lead at the top of the table from ten to five points.

A crucial Bank Holiday weekend sees Netherfield go to Kendal on Monday, while Fleetwood, who have a match in hand, have two fixtures and could go top if successful in both.

Kendal made the same score as St Annes in a reduced-overs league match at Highbury Road on Saturday.

St Annes made 163-4 with West Indies professional Jimmy Adams top-scoring on 54, and Kendal, who faced five fewer overs, equalled the scoring at 163-3 with their Pakistani pro Kabir Khan making 51.

But under the rules the result was a losing draw for Kendal, who collected four points - eight fewer than for the win if they had scored just one more run.