Commanding performance brings second T20 win

The LPNM Lunesiders made it two in two after a fine first innings performance saw them overpower Preston at West Cliff.

Carrying on his fine form from the previous week against Netherfield, Lee Sparks started where he’d left off helping the Lune Road men race to 50 for no loss in the sixth over.

Pro Rameez Raja played second fiddle to Sparks working the ball around before the medium pace of Andrew Starkie finally removed the Pakistani T20 specialist caught behind for 25.

From 84 for 0 Lancaster stumbled slightly to 88 for 3 as first Jamie Heywood was run out for 1 before Sparks couldn’t quite reach to fifty, holing out for 49 to Starkie.

But the platform had been set for the middle order and, with nine overs left, Charlie Swarbrick and Kieran Moffat tucked in to Preston’s back up bowling.

Swarbrick and Moffat accelerated the Lunesiders past 100 moving at 10-an-over. Swarbrick’s aggressive innings was ended as Syed Shajjar Shah got one through the right-handers defences at 143 for 4.

Craig Heywood and Iain Burstow ensured the tempo didn’t slow leading the Lunesiders to finish on a sizeable 180 for 5.

Preston’s chase was one that never got going. Liam Moffat and Iain Burstow choked the scoring in the first six powerplay overs.
Moffat castled Mohmedrafik Patel early on and tight fielding left Preston with a mountain to climb.

Ben Simm introduced himself and Callum East with both picking up a wicket apiece. Dan Chambers and Rameez Raja chipped in with wickets as Preston never really looked like attempting the chase.

Rashid Amin and Preston skipper Sajid Patel briefly gave the Lunesiders pause for thought with enterprising 35s between them but Lancaster controlled the innings from first ball to last.

The Lunesiders winning comfortably by 86 runs.