Batting offers little against Penrith

There were few positives to take after Lancaster went down to a heavy loss at home to Penrith on Saturday.

With rain around a delayed start meant a 44-over-a-side affair but the reduction did little to dampen Penrith’s scoring.

The hosts started well when Michael Slack gloved Ben Simm to short leg before a horrible mix-up saw Tony Threlkeld depart for 0 leaving Penrith 11 for 2.

From then Lancaster chased leather. Alex Atkinson and Ryan Carruthers cut loose scoring boundaries at will for the next 25 overs.

Simm replaced Liam Moffat with Dan Chambers but he couldn’t find the breakthrough while Carruthers continued to lift Simm into the leg-side boundary as Penrith passed 100.

Matthew Liver and Scott Sparks offered a semblance of control with the former removing Atkisnon for a well-made 62.

Penrith pro Paul Hindmarch (30) carried on where Atkinson left off and took advantage of the defensive field. Sparks finally got Atkinson caught in the deep by Moffat for 72 as Penrith chased quick runs.

Sam Moorby had a good day with the gloves. He helped give Liver his second when Greg Hall dragged his back foot out before Moorby whipped off the bails at 180 for 5.

A cameo 17 from Alex Raybould took Penrith passed 100 as Simm returned to pick up some cheap wickets towards the end. Penrith finishing on an above par 208.

Lancaster saw their chances disappear in the first six overs of the game. Hindmarch opened up from the River End and removed Jamie Heywood second ball as a leading edge looped to Martyn Challenor at mid-on.

It didn’t get much better for the hosts. Fourth ball saw Rameez Raja go in exactly the same fashion as a leading edge looped back to Hindmarch – 0 for 2.

A few overs later it was 4 for 4. Charlie Swarbrick got a good one nipping away from Hindmarch nicking straight to slip before Alex Metcalfe spooned a drive straight to point off Greg Hall to leave Lancaster in the mire.

Sam Moorby and Danny Welbourne took Lancaster into double figures with Moorby looking solid. But the partnership and the innings for that matter, wasn’t to last.

Welbourne was caught at cover leaning back on the drive before Moorby was cleaned up by Kriss McLean.

Dan Chambers played one drive too many nicking behind at number 7 to give Hindmarch his fourth and the big right-amrer had his fifth when Scott Sparks was cleaned up.

Ben Simm (18) top scored but it was no major achievement in what was a dismal innings. The Lancaster skipper holed out before Matthew Liver suffered a similar fate off Hindmarch to wrap up a sorry display.

Lancaster falling 139 runs short to hand Penrith a routine victory.