Morecambe Cricket Club 1st XI go top after dominating win over Preston

Morecambe won the toss and elected to bat in a top of the table match with Preston knowing a win would replace their opponents at the top. 

Morecambe made a solid start through the first 10 overs putting 47 on the board through openers Luke Pearson and Lewis Smith.

The first wicket fell for the home side just before the rain delay as Pearson was caught for 32.

As the rain began to fall we started losing overs. Finally the rain stopped and only eight overs were lost which meant a 37 over game.

Creech was next out, three overs later and it could have got a lot worse for the home side as Alex Briggs was dropped off his first ball.

He made them pay as he brought up another excellent 50 in very little time to accelerate the score to over 100.

Briggs was dismissed though in the 22nd over for 59 off just 33 balls, and Morecambe were 132-3 with 15 overs to go.

Preston would get back into the game as three quick wickets fell in the space of two overs, opener Smith (pictured below) LBW for 28 and Ward and Davies both caught without scoring.

Ismail Patel would have his third wicket a couple of overs later as Lloyd Smith was caught for 4.

The game very much in the balance at 152-7.

David Rhoda made 26 to get the score past 170 and a handy 10th wicket partnership of 21 between Bland and Patel got Morecambe to 192-8 from 37 overs. Talha Patel (4-52) and Ismail Patel (3-69) were the pick of the away side's bowlers. 

A revised total by DLS of 197 to win was the equation for Preston, but the home side made an early breakthrough with Rizwan Patel bowling Suhel Patel for 9.

Preston’s agressive batting style suited pace on the ball as Navazish Ali hit back to back fours and also hit a six.

This brought a bowling change and it worked straight away with spinner David Rhoda trapping Ali LBW for 23.

In the very next over, Lewis Smith dismissed capitan Mehmood for 0.

Preston were 52-3 after 10 overs.

A much needed partnership of 38 gave Preston hope but that hope quickly vanished as spinners Dixon and Rhoda took three wickets between themselves in three overs as the score of 87-3 became 89-6.

An uphill task required for Preston, who were now relying on opener and capitan Sajid Patel.

But after another handy partnership of 34 and the score being 123-6, the game was turned immediately.

Dixon bowled Bariwala for 19 and very next ball had Haji.

The hatrick ball was survived by Ismail Patel but the game was won in the very next over as Sajid Patel was caught top scoring on 32 and Talha Patel LBW very next ball for 0.

From 123-6 to 125 all out, meant Morecambe win by 67 runs, with Stefan Dixon and David Rhoda both finishing with four wickets each.

The win sends Morecambe top of the table after eight games, three points ahead of Preston.

Next week, Morecambe face Burneside at Woodhill Lane, looking to extend their lead at the top of the table .