Seconds brought back down to earth

It was back to earth with a bump for Lancaster’s seconds as a below-par score was overhauled with ease by defending champions Leyland at Lune Road.

Alex Metcalfe and Danny Welbourne survived early scares to take Lancaster to 21-0 before Welbourne became the first of four Andrew Jacques wickets.

Metcalfe and student recruit Sam Reddick took the score to 50 before left-arm spinner Michael Birchall dismissed Metcalfe for an unfulfilled 36.

Reddick and Laurie Atkinson kept the board ticking with Atkinson in particular timing the ball nicely from the word go.

But with the departure of Reddick for 26 saw Lancaster’s innings fall away. Jacques returned to castle Atkinson for 33 and it was downhill from there for the hosts with the last seven wickets falling for just 40 runs.

With the score of 124 30 to 40 runs shy of par on a pitch suited to batsmen, Lancaster had a tough job on their hands.

Opening bowlers Dakshina De Silva and Steven Armstrong found plenty of carry but couldn’t make significant in-roads into Leyland’s batting.

Armstrong pinned Hamza Khan leg before at 25 for 1 but that was as good as it got for the hosts.

Lancaster’s back up bowling was shown to be particularly weak as Tom Reece tucked in to some wayward fare to bring up a quick 50.

With hope extinguished, Geoff Orr and Matt Crowther saved face for the hosts by picking up two late consolatory scalps but it was Leyland who took the spoils easing home by six wickets.

Scorecard http://lancaster.play-cricket.com/website/results/2334502