Smit century helps Morecambe to losing draw against Barrow

Morecambe celebrate a wicket for Daryn Smit is congratulated on one of his five wickets. Picture: Tony North

Batting first the visitors amassed an imposing 268 all out, Kaustubh Pawar blasting 125, before Josh Dixon’s men replied with 225-8 thanks to another century from sub-professional Daryn Smit.

Barrow captain Toby Mowat had no hesitation in batting first on winning the toss, opening the innings alongside highly-regarded Mumbai man Pawar.

The duo started cautiously against the opening bowling of Eddy Read (4-73) and Jono Gates (0-33) but did profit on anything loose the Morecambe pair threw at them.

Eddy Read in action against Barrow. Picture: Tony North

Read soon got his first scalp of another good afternoon though, trapping Mowat plumb in front,

Morecambe had the breakthrough and continued to put pressure on the Barrow line up, Gates seeing Sam Dutton dropped before the Cumberland man got into his stride making a fluent 30.

Dixon rung the changes desperate to collect the wicket of the fast-scoring Pawar who had reached his 50 inside the first 30 overs.

Smit and Tommy Clough bowled well in tandem but the flow of runs could not be stopped with Michael Wellings settling in alongside his professional.

Suddenly Smit created a chance with Pawar on 63, spinning the ball past the outside edge only for the stumping chance to come and go as Lewis Edge missed out.

The paid man went from strength to strength moving through the gears at ease, the hosts powerless as he struck a series of huge maximums to bring up a stunning century.

At the other end Read and Smit (5-88) continued to take wickets at regular intervals but the run rate wasn’t slowed.

Pawar was eventually dismissed by Read for 125 with Smit taking the catch to bring an end to a 117-ball innings that included nine fours and seven sixes.

Morecambe had a mountain to climb in reply and made a poor start with Pawar’s fellow Mumbai professional Javed Kahn bowling with real pace to remove Gareth Pedder, Dixon and Edge.

Having combined well with the ball Read and Smit came together again with the former in the mood for a battle alongside the South African pro.

Read played the supporting role as Smit again raced his way effortlessly towards another 50 in Morecambe colours.

The pair added more than 100 for the hosts leaving the game in the balance when Read departed thanks to an excellent stumping from Tom Penny as Greg Reynolds picked up one of his three wickets.

Morecambe had an able replacement in Ryan Pearson however with Smit carrying on his merry way at the other end, stroking the ball to all corners of Woodhill Lane. Three figures soon followed for the Durban man with a thrilling finish on the cards only for Smit to fall caught at gully for a majestic 115.

It was left to Pearson to play an aggressive knock down the order to pick up as many bonus points as possible.

He finished on 56 not out ensuring Morecambe picked up five points to Barrow’s 11.