Morecambe extend league lead after top of table win over Torrisholme

Morecambe's fine run of form continued as they beat Torrisholme by 54 runs in a top of the table clash.

Morecambe won the toss and elected to bat first.

They made a productive start with openers Smith and Pearson as they made 30-0 off six overs.

However it was former Morecambe player Irfan Qayyum who made the breakthrough trapping Pearson lbw for 9.

In the very next over the in form Smith and Briggs would both depart in quick succession as they both were caught behind by overseas Brown off the bowling of Uzair Shah.

From 30-0 it quickly became 34-4 as Andrew Creech was bowled by Qayyum for 0.

Rhoda and Orr tried to steady the innings but when Rhoda was bowled for 5, Morecambe were in real trouble at 50-5.

A counter attacking innings would follow as Ashton Ward (below) hit 20 in the over but it wouldn’t last long as he was bowled for 22 off just 10 deliveries.

Dixon and Bland would get the total to over 100 for the away side but the final three wickets would fall for just 12 runs as Morecambe were bowled out for 125 off just 32.4 overs.

Michael Bland top scored with 23 and Uzair Shah was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5-42.

It wasn’t going to be easy for Torrisholme though on a tough wicket, and Rizwan Patel would get the early wicket of opener Bethen.

It would get a lot trickier when overseas keeper Brown was bowled by Lloyd Smith for 0 as Torrisholme were reduced to 13-2.

A short partnership of 24 came and went as Habibzay and Khan were both dismissed in consecutive overs.

Cookson and Parkinson were Lloyd Smith's next victims as he picked up his fourth wicket of the day.

It would soon become five in his next over as Elahi was caught by keeper Ward.

Torrisholme from 37-2 were now 51-7.

It wouldn’t get any better for the home side as the last three wickets fell for just 20 runs, Torrisholme being bowled out for just 71.

Lloyd Smith picked up career best figures of 7-27 off 12.3 overs.

A superb bowling display to defend 125 and to win by 54 runs.

Morecambe extend their lead at the top to 16 points and face second place and rivals Lancaster on Saturday at Woodhill Lane - 1pm start.

Here are more photos from the Morecambe v Torrisholme game, from Tony North

Irfan Qayyum from Torrisholme

Alex Briggs from Morecambe

Here are other recent results.

MORECAMBE v Penrith, Sunday July 13

Morecambe played hosts to Penrith in the Meyler Cup Semi Final.

Morecambe won the toss and elected to bat first. 

There was no messing about as Lewis Smith hit the first ball of the innings for  six but it was Penrith who struck early as Farmer bowled Briggs in the second over.

Smith and Pearson consolidated the innings and made 72 together before Smith was bowled by Hall for 40 on the stroke of the drinks break.

84/2 off 15 overs.

Morecambe looked on for a big score just like yesterday v Rufford at 103-2 but Pearson got caught on the boundary for 32 to get Penrith back in the game.

The game would drastically change as Morecambe went from 103-2 to 125-9 inside eight overs.

Rhoda and Battersby both caught plying big shots and Ward and Dixon were both bowled and in between that Creech was run out for 19.

Morecambe’s last wicket partnership put on 20 to make the score a bit more competitive finishing on 145 all out.

Sam Hall ended with 4-20, Zealand 2-16 and Ellwood 2-36. 

Lloyd Smith and Stef Dixon bowled well up top as Penrith from 10 overs were only on 16-1 with Dixon getting the wicket of Craig.  

Zealand was next to go as he was trapped LBW by Smith for 1 and when Ward excellently caught Burns down the leg side  for 11, the game was in the balance at 25-3.

Dixon would get two in two next over to leave the away side in real trouble and when Lewis Smith bowled Simpson for 4, the scoreboard read 37-6 and the home side were definitely the favourites.

It would get no better for Penrith as Rhoda picked up three wickets in his eight overs to leave Penrith 76-9.

A last wicket partnership of 70 was the last hope to make it through to the final.

Ellwood and Hall rotated strike well to get the score to over 100, 27 was then needed from 12 balls.

Lloyd Smith bowled the penultimate over and after a wide and a 2, the last ball bowled Ellwood for 25 sending the home side into delight as Morecambe won by 24 runs.

Sam Hall finished not out on 41, Rhoda 3-33, Dixon 3-18, Lloyd Smith 2-16 and Lewis Smith 2-14. The wicket takers for Morecambe to send them through to the final!!

In the other semi final, Leyland 2s chased 233 versus Torrisholme to win by one wicket as Jacob Wright ended 106 not out. 

This sets the final up as Morecambe will face Leyland 2s at Woodhill Lane on Sunday August 17.

MORECAMBE v Rufford, Saturday July 12

Morecambe won the toss and elected to bat first versus Rufford in glorious conditions as they tried to continue their fine form at the top of the table . 

A blistering start from Lewis Smith, who made 12 off the first over with three boundaries.

But it was Jamie Holmes first out as he was caught by Golding off the bowling of Lyon for 6 as the home side made a positive start inside six overs. 45-1. 

Smith brought up his 50, eight overs later as the boundaries continued to flow between him and Andy Creech.

Smith would depart in the 16th over caught Ashcroft for 61 off just 50 balls.

As the score ticked past 100, Rufford got their third, captain Luke Pearson out for 5.

But a match defining partnership from Rhoda and Creech of 112 set the game perfectly for the home side. Both reached 50s as Morecambe went past 200 and a big score was on the cards with still seven overs left.

Rhoda departed for 51 as he was caught by Golding and next over Orr was bowled by Lyth.

Morecambe 222-5 with five overs left.

A quick fire 17 from wicketkeeper Ward and Creech finishing 79 not out got the hosts to 258-7 from their 45 overs.

It was going to be a tough chase for Rufford and became even tougher when overseas player Du Toit got caught early on for 19.

A partnership was needed and was produced by Max and Gregg Ashcroft. They put on 76 before Max was run out for 34 by David Rhoda.

Rufford 105-2 from 27 overs.

Wickets continued to fall and all of a sudden became 119-6 as Rhoda and Dixon spun past the middle order.

The game all but over with 12 overs left.

Gregg Ashcroft's handy innings came to an end as he was well caught by Ward for 60.

Joe Lyth ended on 42 from 37 balls to get Rufford near 200 but ultimately wasn’t enough as Morecambe won by 66 runs.