Morecambe CC professional makes an instant impact against Lancaster

Ryan Pearson’s side had done the business after batting first but saw their hosts’ last pair hang on at Lune Road.

Having been asked to bat first, Morecambe didn’t have an ideal start with Gareth Pedder (2) caught by Andrew Chubb off Damar Graham.

The same bowler also accounted for fellow opener Luke Pearson (18), Sandy Richards taking the catch.

However, this brought together Charlie Swarbrick and overseas professional Rongsen Jonathan, making his Morecambe debut.

They took the game away from Lancaster as both men posted centuries.

Jonathan top-scored, hitting 13 boundaries and five sixes in his 127, an innings which ended when Atharva Taide had him caught by Laurie Atkinson.

Taide also bowled Swarbrick after he had struck 124, a knock which also contained 13 fours as well as three maximums.

There was still time for Ryan Pearson to hit two fours and a six in his undefeated 19 as Morecambe declared five overs early on 314-4.

Graham ended with 2-84 and Taide 2-58 for Lancaster, who now had 55 overs to chase their target.

However, survival quickly became the name of the game when they were reduced to 58-5 in reply.

Louis Backhouse was the man largely responsible, taking the first three wickets to fall.

Lewis McGinley (5) was first to go, caught by Reuben Orr, followed by Irfan Qayyum (6) who was bowled, and Steven Fisher (10), caught by Luke Pearson.

Liam Moffat then had Atkinson (0) caught and bowled before Swarbrick ran out Chubb (1).

Jonathan then picked up his first Morecambe wicket, trapping Sandy Richards (6) LBW to leave Lancaster 81-6.

Taide had stood firm and was joined by David Rippengal to establish a crucial partnership.

That ended when Jonathan picked up another LBW decision, dismissing Taide for 77 to make the score 133-7.

He was followed moments later by Graham (1), bowled by Backhouse, as Lancaster fell to 137-8.

Rippengal and skipper Ben Simm added 20 for the ninth wicket before Moffat returned to have the former caught by Jamie Heywood for 38.

Last man Faizan Khan joined Simm with Lancaster 157-9 but, despite Morecambe’s best efforts, they were able to bat out the remaining overs.

Simm ended 18 not out and Khan 11 not out as Lancaster reached 185-9, though Morecambe claimed 12 points for a winning draw.

Backhouse led the bowling figures with 4-42, while Moffat (2-26) and Jonathan (2-42) took the other wickets to fall.

The seconds also claimed 12 points but they were victorious, beating Kendal by nine wickets.

Oliver Killiner (67) and Freddie Price (58) hit half-centuries for Kendal but Stefan Dixon (4-35), Lloyd Smith (3-31) and Lewis Smith (3-65) saw them all out for 174.

Though Price picked up the wicket of Lewis Smith (25) in reply, Morecambe saw Alex Briggs (87 not out) and Mark Woodhead (35 not out) take them to victory on 175-1.

However, the fourths were beaten by 116 runs when they met Westgate’s thirds.

Freddie Whatmuff hit 135 and Arjun Manjre 58 as Westgate batted first and declared on 231-6 from 36 overs.

Ethan Packard claimed 4-7 for a Morecambe side, who were skittled for 116 in reply as Whatmuff followed up his century with figures of 3-20.

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