Excellent Rameez ton not quite enough

A superb century from professional Rameez Raja wasn’t enough for Lancaster away at Netherfield on Saturday.

The Pakistan international’s maiden league hundred took Lancaster well beyond 200 but fifties from Marc Brown and John Huck helped fire the hosts home.

Ben Simm won the toss and batted on what appeared run-of-the-mill Netherfield batting track. Despite a quick start from Jamie Heywood and Alex Metcalfe, the pitch was tacky and offered some assistance to the seamers.

After a comfortable start at 37 for no loss Lancaster lost their openers in quick succession. Heywood (10) was trapped on the crease by Ryan Wilson’s first ball before Metcalfe (22) was adjudged lbw after being hit on the toe by a Dieter Klein in-swinger.

Raja was joined by Charlie Swarbrick at four and while Lancaster’s middle order found the going tougher against Netherfield’s medium pacers, Raja flourished.

Swarbrick looked to have overcome a tricky start before a rush of blood saw him try and take on a length ball from Nathan Chambers only to find a back-pedalling Marc Brown at mid-off.

But Raja kept the innings together past drinks as he too began to find his fluency. Sam Moorby (20) continued his good form and offered good support from the other end before he too tried to lift Chambers straight to no avail at 132 for 4.

Raja accelerated as he passed fifty and began to strike boundaries almost at will with a solid platform in place. Danny Welbourne became Chambers’ third wicket falling for a duck but Ben Simm (18) rotated the strike with Raja as Lancaster entered the last ten overs.

Raja cut loose through the 80s and 90s striking maximum’s over the short leg-side boundary and eventually bringing up a deserved ton in the 45th over.

Wickets fell quickly towards the end of the innings. Simm was confounded by a Klein slower ball before Raja finally fell for 109 – caught at deep cover by Tom Williamson off Chambers at 208 for 6.

Iain Burstow became Chambers’ fifth as an attempted swipe went skywards while Dan Chambers and Liam Moffat were run out chasing quick runs. A total of 232 was a solid one.

And it looked an even better picture for Lancaster when Liam Moffat squeezed a nip-backer through the defences of the dangerous Rick Potter in just the third over – 6 for 1.

Ben Barrow and Marc brown weathered a turbulent period for the hosts as Callum East and Moffat regularly beat the outside edge.
With the visitors struggling to find the breakthrough Lancaster’s patience paid off. Simm’s leg stump line forced Barrow into top edging a sweep leaving Raja at deep backward square to complete the catch – 86 for 2.

Dieter Klein was the next to fall to Simm’s leg line soon after. After the ball got caught in tangle after a Klein sweep the ball was dragged back onto his stumps leaving Netherfield precarious at 93 for 3.

Marc Brown held the innings together – passing his half-century and rebuilding with the powerful John Huck.

But Simm had his say once more as the sweep brought its third victim. Brown played across the line once too often leaving umpire Albert D’Leny no choice but to lift his finger at 129 for 4.

With over a hundred still required, Lancaster were in the box seat. But Huck has other ideas. Attacking from ball one he muscled the ball around Parkside Road and found support from former Lancaster man Joe Atkinson at 6.

The required runs ticked down at a rapid rate with Huck continuing the clear the fence and Lancaster having few answers.
Liam Moffat returned but couldn’t stop the rot as Atkinson (33) began to play some shots of his own.

Simm brought Iain Burstow into the attack as one last throw of the dice but by then the damage had been done. Atkinson was pinned LBW late on but Huck continued unabated passing 50 with ease.

Tom Williamson brought the game to a close striking Burstow over long-on for six with Huck finishing 79 not out from just 53 balls.
Lancaster losing once again after letting a position of strength slip.