Cricket: Morecambe fall to Barrow defeat in Northern Premier League

Morecambe fell to defeat to Barrow in their opening Northern Premier Cricket League fixture of the season at Woodhill Lane.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bowl first and it took only five overs for the breakthrough, Drew Postlethwaite (14) bowled by Lloyd Smith.

Simon Chadd and Oliver Whalley made progress as spin from both ends was implemented through Siddarth Ahhuja and Stefan Dixon.

Morecambe's Regan Jackson

It would be the undoing for both though, Dixon getting Chadd (26) as Joe Davies made the catch followed by Whalley (10) edging behind to Reuben Orr off the bowling of Ahhuja.

After the drinks break, the Indian overseas got the big wicket of South African professional, Hardus Coetzer (18) trapping him LBW, leaving Barrow 90-4 from 28 overs.

A partnership was needed for the Cumbrian side and Sam Dutton and Jack Singleton provided. Regular boundaries especially from Dutton gave his side a platform to get over 200.

Siddarth Ahhuja

13 came from the 44th over including Dutton bringing up a well made 50 with a boundary.

The partnership of 76 came to an end, Barrow captain Singleton (32) was caught by Luke Pearson as Usman Haider got his first wicket of the season.

A late flurry of boundaries got Dutton to 77 but was dismissed in the penultimate over, Haider with his second of the day, with Barrow finishing on 206-6.

Andy Creech and Reuben Orr started the reply for the hosts, but Daryl Wearing and Coetzer struck early wickets to leave the score 17-3 inside seven overs. Wareing with two, Creech LBW (10) and Ahhuja (1) as he chipped one straight to Dutton, sandwiched between Coetzer’s first, Pearson (5) edging behind to Postlethwaite.

Barrow's opener Simon Chadd

Morecambe never recovered and regular wickets continued to fall. The pace of Coetzer bowled Bradshaw and Orr’s stay was ended, Postlethwaite taking another catch behind the stumps.

It was now 33-5 and 207 looked a long way away. Davies and Benji Orr put on 40 together but the left arm spin of Dec Tyson (3-11) had two in the over - Orr (29) and Dixon without scoring.

Stefan Dixon

Despite Davies top scoring on 45 not out it wasn’t enough as Coetzer (4-16) rounded things off bowling Regan Jackson.

A heavy defeat for Morecambe 123 all out with Barrow winning by 83 runs.

Morecambe travel to Thornton Cleveleys looking to bounce back on Saturday 12:30 start and also play hosts to 2025 Northern Premier League Division One winners Kendal in the Lancashire Cup on Sunday 13:00 start.