LANCASTER could only take a losing draw on Saturday, failing to reach the St. Annes total.

St. Annes skipper, Duncan Whalley won the toss and surprisingly elected to bat.

This seemed to be a good move for Lancaster when both openers were removed with less than ten on the board.

Danny Milligan (1-8) and Liam Moffat (1-26) kept pressure on both batsmen in the early overs.

Gareth Evans was first to go, edging a back foot drive to Jamie Heywood, who took a smart catch at second slip.

In quick succession, Moffat trapped Adam Taylor in front putting Lancaster in a good position.

Then, a century partnership between Atiq Uz-Zaman (66) and Stephen Twist (45) took them to the verge of a very competitive total.

Michael Walling (3-41) posed problems throughout the middle to latter overs and deservedly picked up wickets, including the prised scalp of Uz-Zaman.

Tim Barry (2-35) was back in bowling boots again and picked up key wickets of Twist and John Musgrave, who was superbly stumped by Brendan Hetherington, a ball bouncing sharply down the leg side.

Frustratingly for Lancaster, Whalley (15 not out) and Russell Bradley (23 not out) stroked the ball about in the last few overs, steering St. Annes to 182.

For Lancaster, Ryan Nelson and in-form Mike Stevens opened up. It was a steady start, keeping wickets in hand for a late push.

Nelson (25) was out with the score showing 40, trying to take the attack to professional leg-spinner Mansoor Ahmed.

Stevens (62) who battled through some early chances, put Lancaster in a total chasing position, before he was run out at the non-striker's end.

But on a slow and difficult wicket, no one could adapt quick enough, and the overs ticked away.

Twist (3-33) and Ahmed (3-71) were the only wicket takers for St. Annes and bowled areas that were hard to score quickly from.

Barry hit a quickfire 22, but Lancaster had to settle for maximum bonus points, David Heywood (four not out) and Hetherington (12 not out) guiding the home side to 160 – 7.

* LANCASTER 2nd's also left St. Annes with a losing draw, finishing on 160-6 in reply to St. Annes 219-7, captain Ian Parkinson scoring an unbeaten 67.