Morecambe have cutting Edge in St Annes victory

Morecambe were indebted to their wicketkeeper batsman Lewis Edge who stole the show making a splendid 92 not out, guiding his side home as they successfully chased down 179.

Morecambe were asked to have a bowl at Vernon Road as St Annes skipper Andy Kellet won the toss and decided to have a bat on what looked an extremely flat pitch.

St Annes started well with Andy Kellet (17) and Adam Holt (27) however the former had to retire hurt due to a serious calf injury attempting a quick single which brought Matthew Taffe (9) to the crease.

The retirement of Kellet almost brought Morecambe to life as Dixon brought Suraj Randiv into the attack.

The Sri Lankan international was straight into his stride and removed Holt followed swiftly by Taffe. Eddy Read then got in on the act removing the dangerous Xander Pitchers for just nine.

Tommy Clough was then introduced into the attack and he bowled extremely economically, working hand in hand with his professional Randiv frustrating St Annes building pressure from both ends.

That pressure was ultimately to tell as Randiv removed Nathan Bolus (8) and Nathan Armstrong (18). However, Tim le Breton was to provide some resistance as he mixed aggression with an array of excellent strokes around the wicket passing an excellent half century.

Despite this St Annes’ run rate was still dropping and with Read now reintroduced it was essential St Annes moved forward. Le Breton looked to go aeriel only to find Randiv at long off who took a wonderful catch.

With that Randiv and Read mopped up the tail, Randiv adding another five wicket haul to his already excellent season with St Annes finishing on 179 all out.

Morecambe wanted to make a good start and despite a boundary first ball of their innings, Matthew Grindley soon responded sending skipper Josh Dixon’s poles crashing out of the ground.

Mark Woodhead and Suraj Randiv looked to rebuild however last weeks hero Woodhead (9) was to fall looking to drive St Annes professional Pitchers over the top. He was soon to be followed by Ryan Pearson who played onto his leg stump for just a single.

St Annes were jubilant and when Suraj Randiv (22) slog swept straight up in the air off the bowling of Pitchers and Lewis Smith chipped the ball straight back to Grindley Morecambe were staring down the barrel at 44-5.

Cue Lewis Edge and Phil Dennison, the experienced pair instantly hit it off and struck the ball to the boundary with regularity. Edge the aggressor and Dennison the accumulator the pair combined perfectly, pacing their chase calmly and correctly.

With Edge in full flow many league grounds are simply not big enough and he continued to crash the bowling of Matthew Grindley over the ropes and into the houses outside St Annes’ Vernon Road ground.

With just three required for victory Edge again came down the track dispatching Matthew Taffe for another huge maximum ensuring Morecambe took home 12 extremely valuable points which take them yet again to the summit of the Northern League Table.