CASTROL skipper Mark Evans was heavily critical of his players as five dropped catches and some below-par batting contributed to their defeat at Lindow on Saturday.

Evans hailed his bowlers for performing 'out of their skin' but was far from satisfied with other departments of the team as Castrol were all out for 135 chasing Lindow's 150-8.

He said: 'To say I am disappointed would be an understatement.

'The bowlers performed out of their skin, but five dropped catches - three very easy ones by anyone's standard - and another below-par performance in the field allowed Lindow to get to 150.

'We took three or four stunning catches and it's as if we can only do the hard things well.

'Our fielding is just not up to standard and it's only the guys who are out there that can rectify it.'

Evans added: 'I can't understand our batting mentality. We seem to believe we need to score at five or six an over. Apart from the bowlers, I don't think we deserved anything out of the game.' After Castrol won the toss and elected to field, man of the match Damian Walters was the star of the show with 4-50.

But by the time Lindow had reached 78-5, they had already benefited from two dropped catches.

The Castrol fielders then held on to some difficult chances but three more catches were dropped as the hosts moved from 117-7 to 150-8 from their allotted 45 overs.

In reply, King (8) and Evans (8) departed early but Benbow hit 33 before he was out with the score on 70-5.

Ward (21) and Caulfield (13) added a quick-fire 26 but, hampered by a pulled back muscle, Caulfield could not maintain the momentum and was bowled before Castrol were eventually all out for 135 from 34.5 overs.

Castrol entertain Division One leaders Tattenhall in the Twenty/20 Knockout quarter-finals tomorrow. They are back in league action on Saturday, playing host to Stretton.