Cricket: Mixed weekend for Morecambe after league defeat and cup victory

Morecambe CC fell to defeat against unbeaten Euxton in the Northern Premier Cricket League.

Luke Pearson’s fifty was in vain as the visitors won by 36 runs at Woodhill Lane. Josh Boyden’s second fifty of the season helped the visitors get past 200, then Nishan Peiris (5-35) spun Euxton to victory. 

Euxton were made to bat first and made a positive start through the opening 10 overs. Josh Tolley and Max Harper put together 60 before Lloyd Smith made the breakthrough getting the wicket of Tolley for 38.

The introduction of Siddarth Ahhuja quickly made it two, Harper (15) out LBW trying to sweep a full delivery from the Indian overseas player.

Ben Houghton kept the score ticking over, taking 14 off the 19th over but Morecambe got right back into the game with three big wickets in the space of five overs. Firstly, Houghton (20) the second victim for Ahhuja, trapped LBW. 

Then Josh Boyden flicked one off his legs to end the 27th over into the leg side but was excellently picked up and thrown at the stumps by Joe Bradshaw to run out James Bone. 

It got even better for the hosts when professional Peiris charged past one by Stefan Dixon leaving him bowled without scoring. A fightback with the ball left Euxton 118-5 with 20 overs remaining. 

Jack Shovelton took a liking to Dixon striking four boundaries off the left arm spinner but was left perplexed on 24 as the ball ripped past the bat to hit top of off stump.

Despite the loss of wickets, Euxton struck regular boundaries thanks to Jack Morgan and Boyden.

The seventh-wicket partnership putting on 67 in 10 overs to get the score to over 200. Boyden made 50 which included four sixes. Morecambe did secure all three bowling points as Euxton fell from 212-6 to 231 all out. Bradshaw dismissing Boyden (50) and Morgan (36) in his two overs. 

The run chase began in a similar manner, Lewis Smith and Andy Creech putting on 50 but despite the good start after 14 overs were left in trouble at 62-4. Joseph Bowden bowling Smith for 24, but it was Sri Lankan professional Peiris that spun the game in favour of the visitors. 

Andy Creech

Joe Davies bowled without scoring then in the space of four balls had two more Morecambe batters walking back to the pavilion. Creech (24) caught in the outfield by Bowden. George Battersby struck a huge maximum very first ball of his innings but when trying to replicate it two balls later, the quick hands of Morgan whipped the bails off leaving Battersby stumped for 6.

Partnerships were hard to come by, Ahhuja made 41 off 49 balls but the middle order all fell for single figures. Morecambe falling to defeat at 122-8. A 37-run ninth wicket partnership between Pearson and Lloyd Smith was broken by Peiris to secure his 5fer.

Even though the target seemed a long way away, batting points were still achievable, Pearson brought up his first fifty of the season ending on 51 not out as Morecambe got two batting points and denied Euxton all 12 points. Morecambe finished on 195-9, Euxton winning by 36 runs.

Lewis Smith

It was better news on Bank Holiday Monday as Morecambe’s unbeaten run continued in the Northern Premier League 40 Over Cup.

Siddarth Ahhuja took 4-39 and hit an unbeaten 71 as they cruised to victory against Fleetwood by eight wickets.

Fleetwood won the toss and elected to bat first to no surprise with the sun shining down on Woodhill Lane.

A conservative start by Andy Drake and Jeremy Davies with 32 coming off the powerplay bowled by Lloyd Smith and Stefan Dixon. 

Ahhuja made an immediate impact with his first ball, Drake stumped by Andy Creech on the second attempt for 15.

Siddarth Ahhuja

Muhammed Hurraira had no problems facing the spinner batting a six down the ground second ball followed by an elegant cover drive to end the over.

Struggling to see most of the strike an entertaining innings of 20 off 14 balls came to an end with a flick off his legs straight to Luke Pearson at mid-wicket for Lewis Smith’s first of the day.

Ahhuja struck twice in an over, Davies bowled for 20 followed by Tomas King out the same way without troubling the scorers. 

The runs had dried up; Lewis Smith and Michael Bland kept it tight and were rewarded. Smith (3-32) trapping Charlie Clark for 2 and Fleetwood were left in trouble at 85-6 when Harry McAleer was well caught by Creech standing up to the stumps.

Stefan Dixon

Woody Wilson batted well alongside the tailenders to push score past 150. Lloyd Smith (2-39) came back into the attack and got both Declan Clerkin and Sherzai Wali.  

Wilson last out for 59 bowled by Bland in the final over. A crucial fifty to get Fleetwood to a competitive total of 181.

Lewis Smith and Creech started proceedings, three boundaries coming in the space of four balls got the hosts off and running. Creech was first to depart though, Davies clean bowling the Morecambe batter for 11.

Smith made full use of the fielding restrictions. Three fours in a row off the bowling of Clerkin. Morecambe well ahead of the run rate with the 50 brought up in the sixth over.

Fleetwood captain, Matthew Siddall turned to himself, and the former Blackpool spinner provided dismissing Smith for 34. 

Ahhuja and Davies batted excellently, the former playing the more aggressive role including eight fours and three sixes. Fleetwood gave the ball to King and Hurraira searching for the third wicket. But in never came, Ahhuja bringing up his fifty off 34 balls.

He would end up on 71 not out, the win sealed in style with a four down the ground by Davies to finish 42 not out. 

Morecambe have a game away to Garstang this evening (Thursday), with an 18:15 start and then on Saturday, back to league action with a trip to Lytham, 13:00 start.