Batting order collapses as Chorley win

Ian Perieman for Lancaster in their game against Chorley.

Ben Simm won the toss and decided to bowl first. Iain Perrieman was the pick of Lancaster’s bowlers and made the early breakthrough, forcing Ian Oakes into a miscued pull to Alex Metcalfe at mid-on.

But that was as good as it got for the visitors as David Fisher found his timing and helped his side to 102 for 1.

Matthew Liver gave Lancaster hope when Ian Dickinson clipped to Perrieman at mid-wicket for 37 and Simm returned to remove the tiring Fisher for 70 but Chorley Pro Brenton McDonald ensured no collapse for the hosts by working the ball around.

Lancaster did claw their way back with Will Moulton and Jack Bentham falling in quick succession to Simm and the returning Perrieman.

Jack Catterall’s stay at seven was also brief after a mix-up following a mis-field by Metcalfe at mid-off led to a straightforward run out.

Chorley skipper Andy Holdsworth gave Chorley the late push they were looking for but he holed out off the final ball to give Simm his third – the hosts finishing on a commanding 191 for 7.

In reply Jamie Heywood and Alex Metcalfe showed positive intent but James Lee accounted for Heywood with the score 17.

Professional Rameez Raja joined Metcalfe and despite an early boundary through the covers, struggled to get into his stride against the probing left-arm seam of Kieran McCullagh.

The target of 191 looked a long way away when Edwin Moulton had Raja caught down the leg-side for just 12. 50 for 2. Kieran Moffat was then left stranded after attempted a suicidal single to get off the mark before Perrieman top-edged a slog sweep to deep mid-wicket for just two and when Metcalfe departed for 49 Lancaster were teetering on 84 for 5.

James Davies holed out top-edging to point for a duck and an injured Lee Sparks top-edged McDonald.

Danny Welbourne became the leg-spinner’s fourth, padding up to a googly to give McDonald his third and put Lancaster at risk of a big loss at 90 for 8.

Elliot Mason and Ben Simm looked to have saved Lancaster from outright defeat but in the 35th over Mason was adjudged caught behind down the leg-side and two balls later it was all over as the Australian’s googly flummoxed number 11 Matthew Liver to give Chorley all the  points.

nLancaster 2nd XI suffered another loss despite an enterprising 46 from youngster Paul Dawson. The hosts restricted Chorley to 155 with wickets shared between Nathan Baxter, Steven Armstrong and Paul  Dawson.

Despite Dawson’s 46 and contributions from Armstrong and Stuart Phillips in the middle-order, Joseph Tiffin’s 7 for 13 ran through Lancaster to give the visitors a 35 run win.