Hills in top form for superb Lancaster

Lancaster comfortably saw off Great Eccleston on Saturday in the Palace Shield after bowling out the visitors for just 116 at Lune Road.
Joseph Hills was in great form against Great Eccleston. Picture: Tony NorthJoseph Hills was in great form against Great Eccleston. Picture: Tony North
Joseph Hills was in great form against Great Eccleston. Picture: Tony North

Opener Matthew Moat (45) was the only Great Eccleston batsman to really take the game to Lancaster, but once he was removed by Liam Moffat (3-34), with the help of Joseph Hills, the visitors struggled to accelerate the run rate.

Moffat also removed Great Eccleston’s other opener and captain, Will Thistlethwaite, bowling him for just four runs, while Charlie Swarbrick (2-15) got rid of Robert Swale (1) LBW and Adam Green (8), Hills again taking the catch.

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Ben Simm (2-30) also got in on the act as he took the wickets of Kushan Mirando (3), caught by Swarbrick, and Jon Jeffries (10), who was caught by Hills.

Phil Harvey (10) was stumped by Steven Fisher off the bowling of Lancaster captain Iain Perrieman (2-37), while Joe Jeffries could only manage a knock of five before falling to Moffat as Lee Sparks claimed the catch.

Michael Rigby (13) managed to reach double figures but he was run out by Kieran Moffat and Perrieman struck again to claim the wicket of Jim Procter (0) LBW.

Will Procter was the only man left at the crease, finishing on six not out as Great Eccleston found themselves all out for 116 from 43.2 overs.

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Lancaster had very few problems in reaching their target, they got over the line in just 17 overs, largely thanks to opener Hills who finished on an impressive 66 not out.

Fellow-opener Sandy Richards fell early on though, he only managed a knock of six before being caught by Harvey off Will Procter (1-45).

Rigby (2-30) did his best to get Great Eccleston back into the game, taking the wickets of Steven Fisher (25) , who was also caught by Harvey, and then Swarbrick was removed LBW for just five runs.

However, that was as good as it got for the visitors as Hills and Kieran Moffat (10no) got Lancaster home with ease, with the home side finishing on 117-3 to claim a seven wicket victory and 12 valuable points.

The win leaves Lancaster in third place in the league table, level on points with second place Croston and six off leaders Longridge.

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