All Round Jani Puts Fleetwood to the Sword

Another tremendous performance from Lancaster professional Jannisar Khan gave Lancaster's title chances a big boost as table rivals Fleetwood were soundly beaten on 'super Saturday'.

Home skipper Mat Clark opted to bat on a straw coloured pitch that had provided pace and bounce in previous encounters. Lancaster made Clark rue his decision through some very tight bowling from Jannisar and the returning Liam Moffat. Moffat struck first, as Mike Clinning's edge looped to a grateful Jannisar at first slip before Jannisar notched up a wicket of his own finding Clark fending a short delivery to Sam Moorby.

Fleetwood struggled to get the scoreboard moving at all in the first 15 overs as Adam Parker and professional Ian Holland were trapped by the Lancaster openers at their respective ends. Holland's innings was particularly pained. His 24 ball stay at the crease, all at one end, was finally ended by Jannisar after his skewed back foot drive presented Liam Moffat with a sharp chance at 2nd slip with which he made no mistake.

At 17 for 3 after 15 overs, Lancaster were firmly in the driving seat, nevertheless Adam Parker put up a spirited counter attack, as he threaded boundaries through the covers off Moffat before planting the left-armer into a neighbouring garden with a lofted on-drive. The in-form Ben Simm replaced Moffat as Parker's partner Naveed Yousaf and his unorthodox yet effective technique sought to recover Fleetwood's sluggish start.

Parker departed two short of his half century pushing at a Simm delivery that wasn't quite full enough to drive and edging again to the busy slips. Fleetwood fell to 79 for 5 as Chris Stanhope tried to put Simm into the houses but only found Scott Sparks at mid-on as Lancaster targetted chasing a score of around 120.

Yousaf had other ideas as he continued to enjoy the pace off the ball, picking up ones and twos with the field back, while Joe Bell entered and used his larger frame to hit straight. As the total ticked past the hundred mark, the visitors' fielding became increasingly ragged around the edges with Yousaf and Bell taking runs at will. What hadn't become ragged was the spirit of the game, as Fleetwood kindly provided sub fielders after Lee Sparks injured his thumb.

Yousaf and Bell's fine partnership of 73 had taken Fleetwood's score from mediocre to competitive as enterprising Yousaf brought up his fifty. The visitors did, however, gain late momentum as Simm's long spell was rewarded with the wickets of both the run-getters; their attempts to clear the fence safely pouched by Kieran Moffat and Scott Sparks in the deep. Jannisar returned at the other end to stifle any attempts at a late innings charge while Simm picked up his 18th wicket and third 5-for in as many weeks as Kieran McGann miscued a swipe to the pro at mid-wicket.

Lancaster would have felt Fleetwood's 165 was 30 runs more than they would have liked after their strong start. Luck was on the side of the Lune Road men however, as Charlie Swarbrick was dropped at point first ball of the innings before Lee Jones spilt a difficult caught behind chance off Alex Metcalfe stood up to the stumps. The left-handed opener couldn't capitalise on his chance though as he departed inside edging an attempted cover drive onto his stumps to give Sam Bell and Fleetwood first blood.

The reigning champions were made to rue Swarbrick's early reprieve as he began to get into his stride jumping on anything short of a length from Bell. Youngster Tom Williamson, promoted from the 2nd XI, played an important role at number 3, blunting the new ball spell of Ian Holland by leaving anything the Australian didn't bowl straight. Holland had the last laugh however as he prised Williamson from the crease for 7 before removing the well set Swarbrick fending to Mat Clark who took a stunning catch diving high to his right.

At 61 for 3 it was anybodies game and Lancaster needed their professional to deliver. Jannisar's response was high class as he played a memorable match winning innings. From the off and despite the pressure, Jannisar was positive, his main scoring shots being square of the wicket as he cut and pull viciously.

Danny Welbourne, meanwhile, endured a tough time against a fired up Holland who had the veteran batsman ducking and weaving many short deliveries. It was the spin of McGann that would prove to be his undoing however as he presented the youngster with a simple caught-and-bowled chance that he duly accepted, 79 for 4.

Jannisar remained solid in defence and chance-less in attack at the other end as Holland posed him very few problems. He was supported by a confident middle-order, as Kieran Moffat's 15 kept the score moving forward. When he departed spooning a mis-timed pull to square-leg, there was still 51 required and only 4 wickets in hand with Sparks unable to bat.

Jannisar and Sam Moorby rebuilt and settled any dressing room jitters, Moorby rotating the strike for the pro as the man from Peshawar began to open his shoulders. The game was taken from Fleetwood quickly when the 40 runs needed were knocked off in 6 overs. Jannisar pulled Holland off the front foot twice in successive deliveries to signal his dominance as the total rattled down into single figures. Moorby provided solid support finishing 18 not out while Jannisar's unbeaten 66 from 75 balls gave Lancaster's title hopes a huge boost.