Cricket: Morecambe beat Whalley in the Northern Premier League Division Two

Lloyd Smith and Siddarth Ahhuja starred with the ball to help Morecambe to a four-wicket victory over Whalley.

Whalley won the toss and elected to bat first on a scorching Saturday afternoon at Woodhill Lane. Lloyd Smith and Stefan Dixon opened the bowling and kept it tight; the pressure led to the wicket of Monty Cort (3) as Smith bowled the Whalley youngster. 

Smith was on target, three more times in a brilliant spell of nine overs running through the top order. Frankie Jackson (22) and Richard Palmer (7) both pinned in front as the finger was raised for LBW followed by Amar Ullah bowled for 8 as Whalley slumped to 48-4. 

Luke Pearson

Daniel Ainsworth watchful innings of 23 balls without getting off the mark was concluded by Regan Jackson as he was bowled. Hamish Mullavey-Clark was the only other visiting batsman to make double figures. He saw his captain Thomas Cameron come and go and then Ethan Jackson as both were out spun by Indian overseas players Ahhuja. 

Mullavey-Clark top scored with a well worked 30 but himself was bowled by the off spinner to give him his third of the day. Whalley in real trouble at 99-8 and it wouldn’t get any better for the away side when Michael Bland took the final two wickets to wrap the innings up. 

Siddarth Ahhuja

Whalley all out for 103 with one ball of the 35th over remaining. Smith (4-32), Ahhuja (3-14), Jackson (1-19) and Bland (2-13) the wicket takers for the home side. 

The run chase didn’t start as Morecambe would’ve liked as Lewis Smith was caught by Joshua Dentith off the bowling off Ullah without scoring in the first over.

It was spin from both end and it was working with no pace on ball; Andrew Creech was bowled round his legs by Dentith then Ahhuja was trapped LBW by Ullah to give Whalley hope at 45-3. The hope grew stronger when captain, Luke Pearson (23) was Dentith second victim of the day. 

Joseph Bradshaw

Joseph Bradshaw (27) and Benjy Orr (21) put on a 43-run stance to take Morecambe to touching distance of victory. But both would be dismissed by the spin of Ullah (4-50) firstly Orr with eight to win then Bradshaw with one to win.

Dixon joined Gareth Pedder with the latter playing for Morecambe 1st XI for the first time since 2022 away at Barrow. It was Dixon though with the winning run to give Morecambe a four-wicket win. The victory takes Morecambe to fifth in the table at the halfway stage of the season. 

Benjy Orr

Next up on Saturday 4 July, Morecambe travel to Windsor Park to play Chorley in a top of the table clash in the 40 Over Cup, then on Sunday 5 July it’s another trip north to Kendal in the Quarter Finals of the SuperSports Smash T20 competition with a place at finals day at stake.