THE rain frustrated Lancaster's hopes of only their fourth Surridge Northern Cricket League win of the summer on Saturday as they settled for a draw at Preston.

The Bombers looked to be on course for a good success against an unpredictable Preston outfit after yet more excellent bowling from the metronome otherwise known as Graham Barnes.

The wily seamer claimed four more wickets to add to his burgeoning seasonal haul as he bowled 25 overs straight through.

But a target of 144 was too much for the locals after the rain wrecked the game.

Mario Ventura fell to Barnes for single figures and professional Ian McDonnell saw his timber shattered by Lancaster pro Yasim Bari as the locals got off to an excellent start at West Cliff.

But the methodical Paul Mann and Lukman Vahaluwala staged a recovery to put Preston, with five draws already this season, back on course.

But Ben Simm had Vahaluwala caught and bowled and an excellent stumping from wicket keeper Lee Sparkes off Barnes sent the dogged Mann back to the pavilion.

Barnes removed Pip McDonald for 26 and then the veteran removed another old stager Glenn Johnstone to complete his haul, Lancaster City's former goalkeeper being bowled for 11 as Preston made 143-6 from 50 overs.

That seemed a realistic target for the Bombers until showers hit the area and only 26 overs were possible.

Lancaster gave it their best shot but David Heywood, in possibly the form of his career, fell for 15 before his son Jamie was run out for 23.

Bari, now looking the part as a number three batsman, made a decent 27 and skipper Luke Phillips hit 24 as Lancaster closed in.

And when Sparkes made an entertaining 28 it appeared a win was on the cards.

But the run chase was in vain and after the minimum of 26 overs to constitute a match had been sent down Lancaster were nine short of Preston's score.