Firsts start on the front foot

Taken from the Lancaster Guardian

A powerful lower order batting display and some potent seam bowling saw Lancaster to an emphatic opening day victory away at Kendal.

The visitors’ batting line-up looked strong on paper – bolstered by the arrival of Pakistan international Rameez Raja – but it did suffer early wobbles.

Asked to bat first, Lancaster began watchfully with opening Jamie Heywood and Kieran Moffat leaving plenty of deliveries alone.
Kendal’s professional Eldred Hawken made the breakthrough producing a nigh on unplayable delivery to clip Moffat’s off bail – 9 for 1.

The pacey South African picked up his second soon after as Heywood was trapped in front for 11 to leave the Lune Road men shaky at 16 for 2.

Charlie Swarbrick and Raja fought fire with fire – the former striking three successive boundaries in a Stu Parkin over with the latter repeating the dose against Hawken.

New recruit from Preston Saeed Bariwala saw the end of Raja’s first innings in England as the Pakistan international was adjudged lbw for a breezy 14.

His leaving sparked another clatter of wickets for the visitors with Parkin having the last laugh removing Swarbrick chipping to cover and Sam Moorby caught behind after a sumptuous cover drive.

At 53-5 Lancaster’s innings was in danger of petering out – enter Iain Perrieman who, with Iain Burstow, steered the visitors out of trouble.

Perrieman’s mixture of big shots and measured defence kept Lancaster moving forward while Burstow offered a straight bat in his 24 to take the score beyond the hundred mark.

The partnership of 62 came to an end as Perrieman picked out deep-mid-wicket on the longest boundary on the field to give Chris Miller his first scalp.

Burstow left soon after and former Kendal man Lee Sparks fell cheaply. But Craig Heywood, in his
first appearance in a Lancaster shirt since 2007, applied himself with a measured 16 to take the
visitors past 150.

Ben Simm pushed Lancaster from a competitive total to a strong one. His 31 came in quick time and
broke Kendal’s spirit as Lancaster finished 183-9 from 50 overs.

Kendal’s reply started in a similar vein to Lancaster’s with Darren Braithwaite and Paul Dodds taking
few risks against the new ball.

Iain Perrieman carried his form with the bat back on the field after tea as Dodds snicked him to
Jamie Heywood at slip to make it 18 for 1.

Before Liam Moffat removed Bariwala and Shane Hyland in quick succession for nought to put Kendal firmly in the mire at 18-3.

There was no way back for the hosts as Lancaster kept up the onslaught. The left-arm pair of Perrieman and Moffat forced Kendal to crumble to 41-6 – their middle order in tatters.

Ben Simm entered the attack with Iain Burstow to help clean up the remains of Kendal’s innings. Pro Hawken offered a stout rear-guard to no avail handing Simm a caught and bowled chance which he duly accepted.

Oliver Field played a cameo 18 but the show was almost over. Simm issued the coup de Gras pinning his opposite number Miller lbw for 6 before wrapping up the innings by bowling Marcus Hill for a duck.

A comprehensive 15 point win – Lancaster will have to wait until May 2 for their next league game at home to Fleetwood.

Scorecard - http://lancaster.play-cricket.com/website/results/2333799