PRESTON'S recent run of good form in the league suffered a setback when Lancaster won comfortably by five wickets at South Meadow Lane. (Preston 142-9 Lancaster 144-5).

Lancaster captain David Heywood won the toss and put Preston in to bat, a decision which immediatley appeared to be prudent as Preston began to struggle.

Struggling at 16-3, Preston appeared to be in a pickle until Newcastle University student Ben Harrison - who travels back every week to play for Preston - and his captain Manoj Parekh added 50 runs for the fourth wicket before Harrison was trapped lbw by Phil Dennison for 18.

Manoj Parekh and Glen Johnstone took the score on to 111 before the latter was caught behind by Brendan Hetherington off David Jolleys for 18.

Manoj Parekh was next out with the score on 125, caught by Lee Marshall off Jolleys for 64. He batted 106 minutes and hit one six and 4 fours off 96 balls.

The next three wickets fell for only 16 runs and the Preston innings closed at 142-9.

David Jolleys bowled half the overs to take 5 for 53 and Graham Barnes supported him with 3 for 38.

In reply, Lancaster lost opener Phil Dennison without a run on the board.

He was caught behind by Paul Mann off Iqbal Lilley.

The visitors lost their next wicket at 21 when Luke Phillips was caught by Glen Johnstone off Iqbal Lilley for eleven.

Lancaster's Pakistani professional Raj Hans was dropped before scoring which proved costly because Hans and opener David Heywood added 63 runs for the third wicket before Heywood was lbw to Roger Kaye for 29.

Lancaster lost half their wickets for 102. Then Brian Phillips and Lee Marshall shared an unbroken sixth wicket partnership of 42 to see Lancaster home to victory.

Phillips and Marshall remained undefeated with 24 and 17 respectively.

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