Big first innings not quite enough for 15 points
Fifties from Swarbrick and Rameez ensure positive result
A four-wicket haul from Liam Moffat wasn’t quite enough for Lancaster as they came away with a winning draw at Penrith.
Half-centuries from Rameez Raja and Charlie Swarbrick ensured the visitors a big first innings total to end their losing league run – but in the end a lack of bite in the field cost Lancaster a 15-point win.
With a severe gale whipping across Tynefield Park, Penrith inserted Lancaster and made an early breakthrough as Alex Metcalfe returned to the pavilion caught behind off Greg Hall for a fifth ball duck.
From then on it was smooth running for Lancaster. Jamie Heywood and Rameez Raja made serene progress – Heywood was content to take his time while Raja played in characteristically aggressive fashion.
The scoreboard moved forward at good pace with Lancaster moving passed 50 in the 15th over. Raja pushed passed fifty on the point of drinks with Heywood playing nicely at the other end.
Fast moving showers brought the players on and off twice but it did little to slow the scoring as Raja planted leg-spinner Alex Raybould into the scoreboard for six.
The second rain break came with Lancaster in a superb position at 134 for 1 but this time the break brought a change.
The left-arm spin of Liam Trevaskis had slowed the scoring and Heywood finally fell for 46 edging behind an attempted cut.
The breakthrough brought a collapse as Raja too departed this time attempting one big shot too many, skewing his lofted drive off Paul Hindmarch straight to Ryan Carruthers at point, 134 for 3.
The total became five down soon after when Craig Heywood was pinned LBW by Hindmarch for nought before Iain Perrieman gave Trevaskis his second scalp – 135-5.
Kieran Moffat and Charlie Swarbrick stopped the rot. Both showed maturity rotating the strike and consolidating for the final push.
Moffat lofted Hindmarch into the sightscreen for a maximum while Swarbrick left Penrith scratching their heads with his quick hands.
With five overs remaining and 180 on the board, Lancaster pushed hard. Moffat finally fell for a well-made 22 but Swarbrick was in great touch. Lee Sparks joined the run scoring with an effortless flick off his legs for six to the short leg side boundary as Lancaster breached 200 for the second time this season.
Swarbrick passed an excellent fifty in just 36 balls to boost the visitors further. Late wickets tumbled in the pursuit of quick runs but the damage had been done as Lancaster finished 226 all out.
Lancaster came out of the break well as Iain Perrieman made inroads into Penrith’s top order.
First Michael Slack nicked behind to Lee Sparks after a loose drive before the dangerous Ryan Carruthers was bowled after a curious innings to hand Perrieman his second.
Lancaster’s fielding was not too sharp however with seven catches going down in the course of the Penrith innings.
The visitors received a big bonus when Liam Trevaskis knocked a ball into the off-side and ran leaving top amateur run-scorer Alex Atkinson little chance running to the danger end. Kieran Moffat completed the run out to leave the Cumbrians tottering at 34 for 3.
Moffat put Penrith further in the mire the following delivery bowling Paul Hindmarch neck and crop – 34 for 4.
Trevaskis and Greg Hall consolidated as Ben Simm brought himself on. Hall impressed lofting the off-spinner straight while Trevaskis survived chances to keep Penrith’s heads above water.
On the stroke of drinks, Trevaskis’ luck ran out as a Hall straight drive flicked Simm’s fingers on the way and left him stranded at the non-strikers end run out for 29.
But at 80 for 5 Penrith were still not done. Hall proved difficult to remove and with help from Alex Raybould, the hosts kept in touch with the asking rate.
At 135 for 5 the game looked as though it could turn as Hall passed a well-made fifty. Liam Moffat ensured there would be no shock win. First drawing Raybould into a false drive to Jame Heywood at deep cover before picking up the prize wicket of Hall LBW for 59.
Even at seven down and nine-runs an over required, Penrith looked for the win. Jonathon Osborne made a cameo 22 before Moffat again proved his worth – picking up his fourth will a well disguised slower ball that Osborne miscued to Craig Heywood at mid-off.
And when Simm trapped his opposite number Kriss McLean with a quicker ball, Lancaster were only one-wicket away from 15 points.
Tony Threlkeld and Nicky Burns saw out the remaining four overs. Despite a near freak catch at short leg by Alex Metcalfe at short-leg off Perrieman in the final over, Penrith survived unscathed on 180 for 9 leaving Lancaster to rue missed opportunities in the field.
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