Win for 2s brings home full house

Report from the Lancaster Guardian

A superb six-wicket haul from Steven Armstrong helped secure a full house of wins for Lancaster’s senior sides at Lune Road on Saturday.

The far side pitch offered little pace and bounce but Armstrong managed to extract enough movement in the air an off the seam to trouble Kendal’s top order to claim figures of 6-23.

Armstrong was well supported in the field by Dakshina de Silva whose memorable run out aiming at one stump from square leg helped trigger a collapse in the Kendal ranks.

Dan Chambers bowled with control to keep one end tight as Lewis Richardson played a good innings of 45 to take Kendal beyond the hundred mark.

A total of 119 was no easy task on a pitch that offered little pace for the batsmen to work with. Danny Welbourne’s brief stay was ended after skying a full toss before the guile and experience of Andrew Dugdale did for Chambers – bowled through the gate – to leave Lancaster 34 for 2.

Skipper Alex Metcalfe steadied the ship with Sam Reddick as both opted to take few risks in a patient fifty partnership.

Reddick’s innings was ended by the impressive young left-armer Oliver Tyson moving the ball back into the right-hander to bowl him neck and crop for 27.

Reddick’s departure sparked a middle-order collapse as 85-2 became 94-6. Matt Crowther, De Silva and Steven Armstrong all fell lbw as Lancaster nerves began to twitch.

Mike Armstrong showed his experience by securing one end while Metcalfe pushed the ball around to take Lancaster to safety.

Metcalfe’s marathon innings took Lancaster over the line – the left-hander finishing unbeaten on 58 off 124 balls as the hosts won by 4 wickets.

Scorecard: http://lancaster.play-cricket.com/website/results/2334456