Morecambe CC win Meyler Cup in run fest

A stand of 211 paved the way for Morecambe Cricket Club to beat Leyland and lift the 2025 Meyler Cup on home turf.

Woodhill Lane was chosen as the venue for the final before the season started, as the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first.

Leyland made the best possible start as Weaver bowled Smith first ball. Shackleton would pick up the second Morecambe wicket as Pearson edged behind for 7 in the 4th over.

Briggs and Creech were then at the crease, and Briggs played an aggressive knock to race the score up to 50, but the innings was cut short as he was caught for a blistering 34 off 17 balls including 7 fours and a six. Morecambe would slip to 72-4 in the 11th over as Creech was bowled by Rounding for 19.

Below: Alex Briggs goes big  - photo by Tony North

Battersby and Rhoda kept the score ticking as Morecambe at drinks were 129-4. Battersby hit regular boundaries to bring his maiden Morecambe 1st XI half century. The 100 partnership was brought up in the 28th over as a huge score was on the cards for the hosts.

Rhoda made 50 shortly after but in the 37th over George Battersby brought up his 100 in a style hitting a 6 as the score went past 250. Boundaries continued all over the ground the partnership between Rhoda and Battersby was 211.

In the final over Battersby was caught for an incredible 132 off just 90 balls including 13 fours and 5 sixes. Rhoda was run out for a classy 71 soon after as Morecambe ended on a mammoth 294-7 from 40 overs.

Below: David Rhoda - photo by Tony North

In reply, Sutch and Carrington were the opening batters for Leyland but not for long as Sutch was bowled by Lloyd Smith for 4 in the opening over.

Carrington counter attacked to get Leyland back on track. He brought up his 50 in the 11th over as the partnership reached nearly 100 but wasn’t to be as Rhoda got Carrington LBW for 66 off just 44 balls.

Soon after Rhoda got Wright LBW for 29 to swing the game back into Morecambe’s favour. 99-1 soon became 120-6 as Bland got three wickets in four balls at drinks Leyland 2nds 122-6 and it looked destined to be Morecambe lifting the trophy. Pallett was Rhoda’s third victim shortly after, finishing with figures of 3/26 and Bland 3/32 from their 8 overs proved vital but Leyland weren’t done as Rounding and Farrington put on 47 for the eighth wicket, Rounding made 50 as Leyland required 64 off 24 balls but only two wickets left.

Shuttleworth blasted 43 off just 21 balls including three sixes but with the required run rate of 20 from the final 2 overs it was just too much to do for the away side. Lloyd Smith bowled Rounding for 66 and it was brother Lewis who claimed the final wicket as Shackleton was caught by Briggs, sending the players and the home crowd into celebration as Leyland made 260 all out, and Morecambe won the Meyler Cup by 34 runs.  

An incredible day of cricket saw 554 runs scored and 17 wickets taken, and 211 partnership between Rhoda and Battersby,  with the Player of the Match award going to the 17 year old for his outstanding 132 off 90 balls.