Up to 3rd

From the Guardian

Alan Kruger's 6 for 72 was not enough for visiting Darwen as Lancaster continued their fine league form. The travails of the Lancaster top order were, once again, rescued by teenager Charlie Swarbrick who carried his bat for his second half century in as many weeks.

Thursday's rain had left the Lune Road pitch green and moist to the touch leaving Jordan Clarke with little other choice than to field first. After 4 maidens to start, the pressure told once the ball left the square when Jamie Heywood was run out after a yes-no dialogue with Charlie Swarbrick left him a yard short of his ground. After long delay in arrival, professional Jannisar Khan's return to Lancaster heralded a first ball duck as Kruger produced an unplayable leg cutter that Jannisar couldn't help but glove.

Danny Welbourne joined Swarbrick and, despite being caused countless problems by the bounce of Kruger, managed to stick around to halt Darwen's progress. Swarbrick looked in little trouble throughout, quickly finding the middle of the bat and punishing the loose ball with scant regard for the conditions. Lancaster's problem of losing wickets in clusters reared its head again as once Welbourne's innings was cut short by Kruger, Metcalfe departed nicking to second slip the following ball before Burstow spooned a straightforward catch to short cover off Cordingley the following over.

Iain Perrieman and Lee Sparks were more aggressive in their support of Swarbrick, both taking the aerial route in attacking Kruger and Wade, which eventually proved their downfalls. Only Swarbrick remained as Scott Sparks became the third first-baller of the afternoon and Lee Marshall, in his first appearance for eight years, sacrificed his wicket in another running mix-up.

At 91 for 9 Lancaster would have taken any three figure score. Number 11 Liam Moffat, on the back of runs in the Twenty20 away at Preston, showed the rest of the line-up how it was done. Initially Moffat saw out any remaining deliveries from Kruger and Chris Wade to allow Swarbrick to bring up his 50 by pumping Wade onto the banking. He then played some strokes of his own, hitting Kruger over his head for four before following Swarbrick's example by slapping a maximum towards the river. Swarbrick continued past 50 and forced Kruger out of the attack, before the off-spin of John Cordingley finally bowled Moffat for 22 with Swarbrick carrying his bat for a sublime unbeaten 75.

Lancaster had their tails up after the break, and after some flashing strokes from Kruger, Ammer Mirza was bounced out fending to Danny Welbourne at square leg off a fiery Iain Perrieman. Kruger looked to have weathered the early storm from Jannisar and Perrieman, before Lee Sparks intervened by producing a remarkable one handed pluck as the Darwen pro walked back with just 14.

The Darwen top order offered a greater collective resistance than the hosts' as Chris Clarke and John Cordingley dug in. Jamie Heywood decided to replace Perrieman with Liam Moffat, a move that yielded immediate results as the younger Clarke brother was adjudged LBW for 13 trapped on the back foot to an inducker, before John Cordingley's inside edge provided Lee Sparks with a much simpler catch to complete.

Northern League veteran Gareth Cordingley proved to be a touch nut to crack, as he counter attacked hitting anything full over the top. Jannisar was unfortunate not to pick up a wicket in his 12 over spell, as the edges he found didn't find the fielders. At drinks Darwen had recovered to 70 for 4 and with the senior Cordingley still at the crease the vistitors' hopes were still very much alive.

Scott Sparks replaced Jannisar from the River end bowling in tandem with the returning Perrieman. The Left-arm quick's extra pace proved too much for Jordan Clarke before Sparks got among the wickets removing Neil Cordingley bat-pad for nought. At 80 for 6 the killer blow came when Scott Sparks emulated his brother's earlier one handed catch taking Gareth Cordingley's firm clip above his right shoulder to give Perrieman his fourth wicket and all but end Darwen's chances of victory.

Sparks then went on to wrap up the innings with the ball, as he castled Nathan Jackson with a classic off-spinner's dismissal bowled through the gate of a prodding forward defensive, before out-thinking Sam Chatburn-Jones who found Swarbrick on the short leg-side boundary. The end came not long after when Chris Wade top-edged a sweep to Liam Moffat at short fine leg to give Sparks his fourth of the afternoon and Lancaster a very convincing 15 point win.

Lancaster bowed out of the TWP Wealth Twenty20 competition on Sunday after a loss to Preston and a last over win away at Morecambe earlier in the week. Chasing 126 to win after Charlie Swarbrick had picked up four wickets with his medium pace, Lancaster need the runs from 14 overs to go through on run rate. Despite the best efforts of Luke Phillips (35) and Lee Sparks (33), Lancaster could only overhaul the total in 17.4 overs to send Preston through to finals day at Netherfield.