1sts Bounce Back in Thriller

Inset: Scott poised behind the sticks

Taken from the guardian coz I'm lazy...

Lancaster took all twelve points in a thrilling encounter at Shap Road on Saturday. Ben Simm lead from the front against his former club with an excellent unbeaten 41 which saw his side over the line with just one wicket in hand. Earlier in the day, leaden skies and a sporting pitch meant Simm gave Kendal first chance to set a total. Young Matthew Liver was again suited to the pace the wet conditions had provided and made early inroads into the Kendal top order. Nick Phillips fell first nicking a textbook outswinger to another ex-Kendal man, Jamie Heywood, at first slip. Du Plessis fell in similar fashion and when Nick Lewthwaite was snared by Liam Moffat in the leg trap, Kendal were rocking at 18-3. Liam Moffat bowled without luck from the other end but still managed to keep the run rate down. Jack White was the glue that kept the Kendal innings together however, as he dug in batting 50 overs for his 69 not out. Veteran Terry Hunte made 13 before he too fell to a very sharp catch by Moffat at square leg, but White eventually found support in the shape of Kendal sub pro Sam Sweeney (31) and Darren Braithwaite (28).

Spin failed to make inroads into the Kendal batting line up; the slow pitch not allowing for adequate turn or bounce. Of the spinners, only Timycen Maruma picked up a scalp; Sweeney caught at deep mid-wicket by a diving Metcalfe. Moffat returned to the attack in the latter overs, picking up the wicket of Braithwaite thanks to a nonchalant one-handed pluck by Matthew Liver. As White continued to accelerate past 50, Liver returned, and, despite numerous dropped catches, claimed a well deserved 5 for 44 from 12 overs. White's bat carrying meant that Kendal finished on 174-7; above par for the course.

The visitors didn't have the best of starts as Metcalfe was cleaned up fourth ball by Sam Sweeney for a duck, but that was the peak of the day for the Nottinghamshire sub pro who became increasingly erratic as the day wore on. Professional Timycen Maruma joined the newly promoted Danny Welbourne and showed his intent early. Maruma certainly didn't plan on hanging around as he tore into the Kendal attack, planting Sweeney for two consecutive sixes over deep backward square and endangering vehicles at the car park end. When Welbourne guided Sweeney to Hyland behind, Maruma slowed and eventually fell trying to plant Chris Miller over the longest boundary on the ground; his whirlwind 57 coming off just 35 balls. With Maruma's exit the innings stalled, Jamie Heywood tried to dig in with Kieran Moffat but wickets fell with increasingly regularity as Stu Parkin removed both. When Joe Atkinson top edged Sweeney to Dodds at long leg Lancaster were in the mire at 94 for 6. Tom Williamson provided Simm with dogged support before he too fell to a sharp in-cutter from White.

Simm kept the innings alive, however, taking 16 off a Chris Miller over and was supported by a healthy supply of 39 extras courtesy of Sweeney straining for pace. Scott Sparks entered at nine, driving White's first ball for 4 and he and Simm began to make Kendal look ragged. As the required runs fell below 30, Miller introduced Nick Lewthwaite who immediately removed Sparks and then Liver to leave the visiors 9 down with 18 still required. Simm then farmed the strike picking up singles toward the end of each of the overs leaving Liam Moffat to survive the remaining few balls. With the required score now within single figures, Simm gambled and it paid off, as he clattered Lewthwaite over square leg for 6 off one knee. Moffat hit a lofted straight 2 late in the over to leave only 2 required for victory in the following over. It was fitting that Simm clipped White off his legs to take his side over the line and stun the Kendal crowd into silence after what was a true captain's innings.

The high water table at Lune Road meant that play still wasn't possible for the Second XI as their game was again abandoned. Lancaster's final game of the season will be at Lune Road this Saturday 15th September against Carnforth.