Morecambe CC confirm Palace Shield Premier Division crown after Preston victory

Morecambe Cricket Club’s victory over Preston was enough to secure the Palace Shield Premier Division title at the weekend.

Morecambe – who had already secured promotion to the Northern League - travelled to West Cliff to play Preston knowing they only needed a single point to be crowned champions.

With rain forecast, both sides agreed to play a 20 overs a side match. Morecambe won the toss and elected to bat. 

Smith and Briggs started proceedings for the away side and consistent boundaries from every over got Morecambe to 38-0 off 6 overs. The partnership would go past 50 and then reach 100 as Smith brought up his seventh half century of the season and going past 900 runs in all competitions.

Talha Patel got the first wicket for Preston as he bowled Smith for 54. Briggs would fall just short of his 50 as he was caught behind on 42 as he also went past 900 runs in all competitions.

Below - Alex Briggs in action against Preston. Image by Tony North.

101-1 from 14 overs soon became 108-5 in the space of four overs as Preston got themselves right back into the game, thanks to Ismail Patel with 3-32 and Talha Patel 2-22. Creech and Lloyd Smith put on 16 for the sixth wicket to get the score to 124-5 from 20 overs. 

Morecambe got off to a superb start with the ball as Rizwan Patel got the wickets of both Bariwala and Suhel Patel. In between those dismissals were Mawson running out captain Sajid Patel and Lewis Smith, who also ran out Ali, as Preston fell to 38-4 at the 9 over mark.

Gamgori and Suhel Patel Jr gave Preston a chance as they hit 25 from 13 balls. But it wasn’t for long as Rhoda got Gamgori immediately stumped for 12. Regular wickets then followed as Bland and Rhoda sealed victory both picking  up two victims each.

Preston finished on 108-9, 16 runs short. Suhel Patel Jr top scored for Preston with 27 and Haji made 2. Rhoda (2-14), Bland (2-35) and Rizwan Patel (2-12) were the wicket takers for Morecambe.

Morecambe will look to end on a high with the season coming to its conclusion on Saturday as they play hosts to Penrith at Woodhill Lane , with a 1pm start.