Heywood 50 not enough

Lancaster's lacklustre batting diplays caught up with them on Saturday as Jamie Heywood's lone hand was the only shining light in their innings on Saturday.

It was a different story with the ball. No fault can be attached to the whole-hearted fielding performance that helped restrict Barrow to 185. The early signs were less than promosing as Sam Dutton got the home side off to quick start with a run a ball 15. Barrow professional Jonathan Wells felt the pressure to get off the mark however, and a fine piece of fielding from Liam Moffat at Gully saw non-striker Dutton short of his ground attempting a sharp single. Ryan Brown departed for 10 attempting a big drive off Moffat, while Iain Perrieman was rewarded for his sharp spell trapping number 4 Nicky Burns on the back foot LBW for nought despite a hint of an inside edge. Wells meanwhile, looked increasingly fluent as he punished anything short of a length. He hit Moffat out of the attack taking 18 from one over including a flat maximum over deep backward square.

Wells reached his 50 and was looking in line for a big score before Lancaster's fielding once again brought breakthroughs. First Kieran Moffat punished an ill-judged single by removing Greg Reynolds before Lee Sparks threw down the stumps a few balls later to pick up the prize wicket of Wells for 53. The scything blade of Rhys Studt and the solid defense of Dean Williams saw Barrow out of their predicament at 94-5 as they put together an important partnership of 35. Lancaster sub-pro Sahid Maqsood threatened with a mixture of off spin and doosras, but Studt continued to throw the bat to find the rope. Moffat returned to take a spectacular one handed catch in removing Williams and keep the run rate tight from his end. Studt played a fine innings however as he hit 3 maximums and provided a late surge to the Barrow total. Patrick Alllington joined in, planting Moffat over cow corner for 6 before he fell to a fine catch by Matt White on the long-off boundary. Barrow finished 185-9 with Studt unbeated on 57, Moffat the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 55 from 16 overs.

Lancaster needed a positive start, and didn't get it as Charlie Swarbrick was cleaned up first ball by Daryl Wearing going back to a full length delivery. It didn't get much better for the vistors when Alex Metcalfe snicked pro Wells behind for just 2 as Lancaster struggled to 14 for 2. Enter stand-in captain Jamie Heywood who looked in good touch on the back of his 30 last week, as did Sub-pro Maqsood when he stroked Wells down the ground early in his innings. Wells won the battle of the pros, however, by finding Maqsood's outside edge when he was only 13. Wells was working up a head of steam and 32 for 3 became 32 for 4 when Kieran Moffat was castled by an in swinging yorker second ball. An early finish looked likely, but Heywood, well supported by Danny Welbourne kept Barrow waiting as they put together a stodgy partnership of 55.

Heywood looked fluent as he took a liking to the left arm spin of Gary Collins, the pick of his boundaries being a lofted on-drive for six. The entrance of Pat Allington did choke the scoring rate as he caused Welbourne more than a few problems outside his off stump. Welbourne finally succumbed for a well-made 21 to Gary Collins, plumb in front trying to sweep. Iain Perrieman fell in similar fashion soon after attempting put Allington into the nearby houses. Lancaster University student Ryan Carey, promoted from the second XI, didn't look out of place as he showed a straight bat to the Barrow attack on the deteriorating pitch. Heywood passed his 50, and looked to be causing the league leaders a few headaches with the score 118 for 6. The end was swift though as Wells returned to bowl Carey neck and crop for 15 before White and Sparks fell to the experienced Wearing. Lancaster went down playing their shots trying to gain bonus points, but it was to no avail. Heywood was the last man out for a captain's knock of 61 with Wells and Wearing shared 4 wickets each as Lancaster subsided to 129 all out.