Cricket: Morecambe progress in Lancashire Knockout after comprehensive Kendal victory

Morecambe beat Kendal by nine wickets to move into the second round of the Lancashire Knockout on Sunday.

The cup competition consists of 32 clubs from various leagues across Lancashire, and Morecambe qualified by winning the Meyler Cup while competing in the Palace Shield last season. They faced the 2025 Division One Northern Premier League winners at Woodhill Lane.

Morecambe won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Bland made the perfect start dismissing Bradley Earl (4) as he chased a wide delivery which went straight to Lewis Smith at point. 

Michael Bland

Finlay Richardson couldn’t repeat his brilliant performance (147) from last weekend. The left hander, chipping the ball straight into the hands of Joe Bradshaw as Bland had two early wickets. 

It would get even better for the home side reducing Kendal to 26-4. Lloyd Smith striking twice, Bowman (16) caught by Taylor Backhouse and Ikram Ullah trapped LBW. 

The struggles with the bat continued for the Division One side, the big wicket of professional Cole Abrahams (8) as a brilliant delivery bowled the South African by Smith.

Lloyd Smith

Bland and Smith were in a battle to see who could take more wickets, Bland making it three each, when Andrew Creech whipped the bails off, stumping Lewis Richardson without scoring. 

A horror start saw the score at 37-6 from 11 overs. Both seamers bowling their allotted overs and Lloyd Smith had his fourth in his penultimate over. Harry Temperton caught in the bowlers follow through.

Christopher Miller and Danish Shabir put together 20 - the highest partnership of the innings. But from 71-7, Kendal lost their last three wickets for seven runs. 

Lewis Smith dismissed Matt Jackson (3), with his brother Lloyd Smith taking the catch, before Siddarth Ahhuja (2-6) brought an end to Kendal's innings, Miller the last man out, top scoring with 18. Kendal bowled out for a 78. 

Lloyd Smith finished with 4-29 and Michael Bland 3-32 for the hosts.

The Morecambe batters made light work of the small target, as Lewis Smith and Creech opened proceedings. 

Smith struck a six in the very first over off Jackson, his innings of 29 including six boundaries before Miller took a good catch off his own bowling. 

That was the only joy for Kendal, as Creech (28) and Ahhuja (21 off 10) saw Morecambe to the end, wrapping up the match in 14.2 overs, to give Morecambe a nine wicket victory.

Morecambe will travel to defending champions Northern in Round Two, on Sunday 7 June.