St Annes come close to reaching target but Morecambe's bowlers finish job off

Having won the toss, Morecambe captain Ryan Pearson decided to put his side into bat first, but with the score on just 11 they lost their first wicket when Luke Pearson (2) was bowled by Jamar Ifill (1-25).

Mark Woodhead (30) and Jamie Heywood (23) put together a decent partnership but that ended when Tom Higson (1-42) removed Woodhead LBW to leave the hosts on 48-2.

In came Luke Jongwe, who put in a very impressive performance as he and Heywood moved the score on well until Heywood was run out by Nathan Armstrong, leaving them on 78-3.

Captain Ryan Pearson (5) was next to go, bowled by Amar Ullah (2-48), and the St Annes man struck again immediately to remove Alex Briggs (0), Mohamed Nadeem taking the catch, as Morecambe started to wobble at 87-5.

Reuben Orr came in but he could only manage a knock of two before being caught by Armstrong off Nadeem as Morecambe’s order began to struggle.

However, in came Daniel Edwards, and along with Jongwe, the pair took the score from 90-6 to 117, only for Edwards to fall at the hands of Nadeem, Armstrong stumping the Morecambe man. Tommy Clough was run out for 16 which brought Jamie Cassidy to the crease, but he failed to trouble the scorers as Morecambe were reduced to 162-9.

Jongwe was the last man to fall after an excellent knock of 59, Jamar Ifill taking the catch off Nadeem as Morecambe finished on 162 all out.

In reply, Morecambe made the perfect start as Tommy Clough (2-25) removed Henry Higson (0) with the help of Reuben Orr a St Annes were left on 1-1.

However, in came Ifill (61) and he and Armstrong (12) forged a superb partnership to take the score to 53 until Armstrong was stumped by Orr off Zac Buchanan (3-40).

Ifill was next to go, again stumped by Orr off Edwards (4-42), and Edwards struck again to get rid of Nadeem (12) with the help of Woodhead to leave St Annes on 90-4.

Morecambe sensed victory when Buchanan bowled Amar Ullah (5), and when Richard Staines (8) was caught and bowled by Edwards the game was in the balance with St Annes on 111-6.

Tom Higson (0) quickly came and went, Woodhead taking the catch off Buchanan, but Andy Drake (11) and Thomas Bradley (21) managed to put together a decent partnership as St Annes edged closer to their target.

That partnership was ended though when Edwards removed Drake LBW as the visitors were now on 139-8, 24 runs short of their target with only two wickets remaining.

In came Alex Bradley (2), and along with Thomas Bradley they sensed victory as they helped their team reach 155 before Alex was bowled by Clough to make it a dramatic finish to the game.

However, any hopes of a St Annes victory were dashed straight away as Paul Wilks (0) came to the crease and was removed by Clough LBW without scoring a single run, as Morecambe secured the win and picked up 12 valuable points in what was a pulsating game of cricket.