Cricket: Morecambe enjoy back-to-back wins in league and cup

Morecambe Cricket Club secured back-to-back wins in the Northern Premier League and a fourth straight victory in the 40-Over Cup at the weekend.

On Saturday, Morecambe travelled to Great Eccleston, where captain Luke Pearson won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Lloyd Smith and Siddarth Ahhuja made full use of the new ball. Ahhuja got the breakthrough, with Alex Briggs taking the catch of Will Smith without scoring.

Alexander Rhodes survived the rest of the over but couldn’t survive the bowling of Lloyd Smith, Rhodes bowled for one to leave Great Eccleston in early trouble at 12-2.

Sub professional Amar Ullah came in at four and struck the first boundary of the game but Ahhuja and Smith kept it tight which led to the wicket of Ullah for Ahhuja’s second of the day.

Will Thistlethwaite was next to depart back to the pavilion, Ahhuja getting the ball to spin through the ‘gate’ to bowl the home sides opener for seven.

Matthew Lawrenson and Mohammed Fazil put on 26 for the fifth wicket but in the final over before drinks, Regan Jackson bowled Fazil (10).

After a partnership of 25 between Lawrenson and Mohamed Nadeem it got the hosts to 86, but Jackson once again broke the partnership, this time trapping Nadeem LBW for 13.

It wouldn’t get easier for the hosts, as Lewis Smith was introduced into the attack. It only took two overs for his first wicket bowling captain Joe McMillan (1).

Lawrenson top scored with 30, and Matt Moat contributed with 20 to get the score over 100, but Smith (3-31) dismissed the pair. Great Eccleston 126-9. Ahhuja rounded off the innings bowling Phil Booth to end with figures of 4-19 as Morecambe bowled out the home side for just 135 in 42 overs.

The run chase got off to a rocky start, with Pearson and Andrew Creech out for single figures to leave Morecambe 20-2 off six overs. Ahhuja and Lewis Smith steadied things to put on 26 but an entertaining 17 from the Indian overseas which included two fours and a six was ended by Rhodes.

In came Alex Briggs back from injury. His first two balls were guided to the rope for four off the bowling of Rhodes, then he hit Ullah for a six to go to 14 off three balls to carry on where he left off from last season, scoring 910 runs in all competitions.

Smith (19) was bowled by Ullah which gave Great Eccleston hope at 62-4 but a blitzing knock of 31 off 19 balls by Briggs settled any nerves in the dugout for Morecambe. He was dismissed by Booth, Morecambe 104-5.

Joe Bradshaw powered two sixes and three fours in a composed run a ball 42 to see Morecambe to victory by five wickets with Joe Davies (14*) at the other end.

Back-to-back league wins for Morecambe. This weekend much more comfortable than last week's nail biter one wicket win away at Preston.

On Sunday, Morecambe went to Penwortham looking to remain unbeaten in the 40 Over Cup. A fantastic bowling display bowled the home side for 50 inside 20 overs. The wickets were taken by Lloyd Smith 5-29, Lewis Smith 1-15, Siddarth Ahhuja 2-1, Michael Bland 1-4 and an excellent run out by Alex Briggs to get Kane Donaghy for 29.

Morecambe didn’t hang about in the run chase winning in 3.1 overs. Lewis Smith top scored with 15 for a convincing eight-wicket win and four wins out of four in the competition.

Next weekend it’s a double header in the league, firstly on Saturday 20 June taking on Penwortham at Woodhill Lane then on Sunday 21 June travelling to Highfield to play second place Fulwood and Broughton, both games starting at 12:30.