Morecambe beat Lancaster to go 23 points clear

Morecambe beat Lancaster to extend their lead at the top of the Northern Premier Division.

Lancaster got off to the perfect start as Lewis Smith pulled a short ball straight to Dan Woods at midwicket.

Curtley Louw would get another in the sixth over as Pearson was caught for 15. Morecambe 31-2.

Lancaster kept taking regular wickets as Creech was caught by Woods for 22 as Louw picked up his third and Hayden Simm bowled Briggs for 15.

Morecambe reduced to 64-4 off 17 overs.

A handy partnership of 39 was needed as Rhoda and Battersby steadied things but two balls before drinks, Battersby skied one to Lord to get Lancaster back on top.

Ward would quickly follow as he was bowled for 4 by Grime.

It was 108-6 but Rhoda and Orr got the score past 150 before Orr was out for a well made 26.

Rhoda made 48 just missing out on 50, but Morecambe from 108-6 would finish on 192-8 off 45 overs, giving them a real chance going into the second innings.   

Lancaster's pursuit to close the gap at the top started very well and openers Heywood and Woods put on 49 for the first wicket.

The first breakthrough came as Heywood edged behind for 18. 

One became two very quickly as Woods was LBW for 26 as Smith got both wickets.

Rhoda was the next to get a wicket as Lord was out for 2. Lancaster 52-3 off 17 overs.

Steinson was Smith’s third victim as he was bowled for 5.

Stefan Dixon got the important wicket of Louw shortly after as he held out in the deep for 19.

Lancaster kept on losing regular wickets from then on.

108-5 became 122-9 in a matter of overs as Morecambe were on the verge of victory.

Fifteen runs later, Sparks was bowled by Bland as he picked up his third to claim victory for the home side.

Dixon 1-39, Lewis Smith 3-30, Rhoda 3-20 and Bland 3-13 the wicket takers for Morecambe as they won by 55 runs 

A superb victory for Morecambe to extend the lead to 23 points. Next week they travel to Eccleston trying to extend the lead even further. 

Below, more photos from the game by Tony North.