Morecambe and Bailey take the high road
Ryan Bailey took the high road and Carnforth took the low road in the T20 on Tuesday evening, bowing out of the competition with their fourth defeat in a row.
Morecambe secured a 39 runs victory against a Carnforth side without their prolific South African professional who was in Scotland on a pre-booked holiday.
The two meetings between Morecambe and Lancaster will now decide the group after both teams completed home and away victories over Carnforth.
Morecambe stage their home game first on Thursday 17 July before journeying to Lune Road on Friday 25 July, just two days before the T20 finals day at Stanley Park.
A Carnforth side containing several third-teamers at least put on a spirited display, restricting the hosts to 140 to 6 despite dropping several catches in the field.
Morecambe opener Vishnal Goyal was incredibly dropped three times in the first two overs before failing to ride his luck, perishing on the midwicket boundary to become the first of Gareth Denwood's four victims.
Morecambe opener Vishnal Goyal was dropped three times in the first two overs |
The rapidly emerging Denwood then captured the prize wickets of Morecambe pro Bruce Martin and Phil Dennison, both to first-ballers in a fiery opening spell.
Carnforth's Adam Cowperthwaite almost runs out Mark Woodhead |
And when Mark Woodhead was run out after a misunderstanding with Gareth Pedder Morecambe were in trouble at 41 for 4 in the 7th over.
But Pedder and Andy Armstrong sensibly re-built the innings, adding 54 before Pedder was bowled by Richard Forsyth for 32, which included three sixes.
Armstrong anchored the rest of the innings, top-scoring with a well compiled 47 not out and receiving good support from Lewis Edge as Morecambe set a target of seven an over.
Lewis Edge is bowled by Gareth Denwood |
Denwood returned four for 29, and might have bagged at least two more wickets but for shoddy fielding.
With Bailey in the Trossachs Carnforth avoided the Doldrums thanks to pinch hitter Adam Cowperthwaite who compiled an impressive 25 as opener.
The visitors were well placed at 55 for 1 at the halfway stage compared to Morecambe's 56 for 4 at a similar juncture.
Darren Moore, Ben Hornby and Tom Barnfield all batted capably and Carnforth were still in contention until the latter was LBW to Martin.
Tom Barnfield hits Gareth Pedder for six |
Martin and Morecambe's T20 captain Tommy Clough each took two wickets.
Edge again kept wicket superbly, effecting three stumpings.
