Classy Clough has visitors in spin for terrific Morecambe victory

The veteran off-spinner produced a stunning spell of bowling to send the visitors home with their tails firmly between their legs.

A battling performance with the bat saw Morecambe post a respectable 123 all out and then Clough got to work as Penrith were bowled out for a paltry 45 off just 22 overs.

Clough finished with outstanding figures of 6-17.

Earlier, Morecambe captain Ryan Pearson had lost the toss and were asked to bad first.

Luke Pearson (3) and Clough (0) opened the batting but they did not last long, with Clough being dismissed by Glendinning (1-11) while Pearson was sent back to the pavilion by Gregg Hall (2-33).

After the fall of those early wickets, professional Luke Jongwe (25) and Jamie Heywood (7) set about the recovery.

However, Heywood was dismissed by Penrith professional Ashwin Hebbar (2-29) and Jongwe followed in the next over in when trying to hit Osbourne (2-29) out of the park but only skied it to Glendinning at cover.

This left captain Pearson (23) and Orr (28) to lead the recovery with Briggs (5) who was dismissed after another rash shot.

Pearson was dismissed by a great ball by Osbourne in his last over before getting taken off by himself.

Orr struggled to find a partner with a couple of run outs before he was joined by fellow Myerscough cricket youngster Lloyd Smith (20 not out).

As a pair they changed the momentum of the game and gave Morecambe a fighting chance with 123 on the board.

Captain Pearson knew that early wickets and the dismissal of professional Hebbar would give them a great chance of getting the 15 points.

And so it proved as Clough had the visitors tied up in knots, ably assisted by Jongwe (1-16). Clough’s persistent control and know-how was too much for the Penrith batsmen.

Jongwe, in the first over of the innings, took a wicket to start the ball rolling before Clough took the next six.

He claimed the important wicket of Hebbar (8), giving Morecambe a great opportunity in the game, one which they duly took.

This was followed by two outstanding pieces of fielding. Jongwe, diving full length to his right, scooped and threw down the stumps and then Briggs did the same at backward point to claim the ninth wicket.

The final wicket to fall was taken by leg spinner Danny Edwards (1-5) who found his rhythm after a few overs to take the wicket and wrap up the game inside 22 overs.

Morecambe next travel to Preston on Saturday with their eyes firmly set on a 4th win in a row with the season well up and running now.