Lancaster 220-7 dec Preston 146-8

LANCASTER had to be content with a winning draw against bottom club Preston at Lune Road.

Batting first, they had a solid foundation when David Heywood and Phil Dennison put on 45 for the first wicket before the former was lbw to Roger Kaye for 21.

Then, only five runs later, there was big disappointment when Lancaster professional Raj Hans caught by Manoj Parekh off James Anyon without opening his account.

David Heywood and Alex Mutucumarana added 65 runs for the third wicket before the former was caught by Anyon off Zubaire Patel for 57. He batted 118 minutes, faced 94 balls and hit 2 fours.

Lancaster lost two wickets with the score on 161.

Paul Taylor was caught by Antony Mann off Patel for 16 and Brian Phillips was dismissed in identical fashion for 26. A seventh wicket partnership of 59 between Brendan Hetherington and David Jolleys enabled Lancaster to declare at 220-7. The former was unbeaten with 34. He batted 29 minutes, faced 19 balls and hit one six and three fours.

Jolleys was bowled by Patel for 25. He batted 24 minutes, faced 19 balls and hit 2 fours.

Zubaire Patel was the pick of the Preston bowling attack, he took 5-55 from 115 overs.

Preston struggled in reply and were reduced to 33-4, but Zubaire Patel and Asif Bukhari featured in a 61 runs partnership for the fifth wicket.

Bukhari was lbw to 16-year-old Chris Glover making his debut for 37. The visitors lost two wickets on 131.

Patel was caught by David Jolleys to give slow left armer Glover his second wicket for 38. Then Manoj Parekh was caught behind by Brendan Hetherington off Glover without scoring. Two runs later Preston lost their eighth wicket when Trevor Donaldson was caught by Paul Taylor off Raj Hans for 18.

The visitors then put up the shutters and their innings closed on 146-8. Chris Glover returned the best bowling figures with 3-25.

This Saturday presents a tough challenge for Lancaster at Lune Road because they play second-placed St Annes.

The visitors are ten points behind league leaders Darwen and will be looking to keep the pressure on them.

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