RAIN SPOILS AN INTRIGUING CONTEST
Fleetwood 264-5, Morecambe 150-4
By Gerry Wolstenholme
The rain that had come during the Fleetwood innings and then had been threatening all afternoon eventually brought this intriguing contest to an end with about 10 overs of the final 20 remaining. By that time Morecambe had reached 150-4 in reply to Fleetwood's massive 264-5 and the game was drawn in Fleetwood's favour.
The afternoon started spectacularly enough when Fleetwood opening batsman Michael Dewhurst was run out off the first ball. John Wright played a shot to point and hesitation between the pair led to Morecambe professional Ramesh Powar throwing down the only stump he could see and it was 0-1. Morecambe's success ended there for some considerable time as Peter Stephens bowled very un-Stephens like in a spell that had the ball crashing to the boundary fence far too often for Morecambe's liking. Most of the shots at that early stage came from the in-form John Wright who raced to a half century, interrupted by a short rain break, while Ghulam Bodi kept him watchful company at the other end.
Even when Powar came on to bowl, and to bowl very intelligently with many variations, Wright kept going. But when he had made 93, from only 96 balls with one six and 14 fours, he edged Powar through to Damien Gudgeon who took the catch and Fleetwood were 151-2. Michael Clinning joined Bodi and the pair kept the scoreboard rattling along but when the former had just hit a massive six over long-on he tried to repeat the shot next ball. The cunning Powar had given it just a little less flight and Clinning only succeeded in finding the hands of Stephens on the long-on boundary. He was gone for 33 and it was 227-3.
The rest of the innings belonged to Bodi who moved effortlessly to his century before, on 123 from 169 balls with 17 fours and two sixes, he was caught by Ghulam Maje in the gully off Powar. Mark Wilkinson perished in the chase for late runs when a diving Tommy Clough magnificently caught him at mid-wicket off Powar, who finished with 4-102 from his 22 overs. Nick Coultas was left not out six and Bobby Denning did not face a ball as Fleetwood closed at an impressive 264-5.
Morecambe were determined to go for the runs from the start and Phil Dennison took four off Steve Hill before the bowler had his revenge when, with a long hop, he had Dennison caught at gully by Wilkinson. He had gone for four and it was 4-1. Clough came in to partner Mark Woodhead and he batted very well although he was missed off a difficult head high catch to wicketkeeper Keith Riley off Hill. He made 18 before he edged Dave Fish to Clinning at slip and Morecambe were 37-2.
Powar came in but did not look in touch as Fish in particular bowled him good length balls on or outside the off stump that he could not get away. But he persevered and with Woodhead keeping the tempo going the pair added 75 runs for the third wicket. Powar then edged Bodi to Riley and he was out for 33 at 112-3.
The dangerous Phil Thornton went to the wicket and, after a tentative start, showed his intentions. In between a stoppage for rain that took four overs off the Morecambe allocation, he struck 24 including one huge trademark six before he too was caught by Riley. This time it was off the bowling of Zac Taylor who had bowled exceedingly well to restrain two batsmen intent on attacking.
That was 150-4 and before Gareth Pedder could take a ball the rain set in with a vengeance and the players left the field. Mark Woodhead was left 62 not out from 109 balls with nine fours when the game was subsequently called off. So Morecambe added only two points to their tally while Fleetwood picked up seven.
Second Division results in brief (home team in bold):
Lancaster 165 (46.3 overs) (Mastermas 61*, Brooks 5-32), Blackpool 84 (42 overs)
(Ledward 4-33, Dawson 4-32)/p>
Lancaster 15 points, Blackpool 3 points
Chorley 273-2 (44 overs) (Smith T 114*, Catterall D 107), Netherfield 217-5 (44 overs)
(Jones 73*, Stewart 50),
Chorley 7 points, Netherfield 4 points
Kendal 94 (36.2 overs) (Brown 47, Chatterton 4-30), Darwen 98-1 (17 overs)(Grant 46)
Kendal 0 points, Darwen 12 points
St Annes 195-5 dec (36.1 overs) (Evans 107, Kellett 45), Leyland 154 (41.5 overs)
(Tummalapalli 5-30, Booth 4-73)
St Annes 15 points, Leyland 1 point
Preston 161-8 (48 overs) (Dixon 41, Totham 4-50),Leyland Motors 162-8 (42 overs)
(Totham 66*, Peet 5-53)
Preston 3 points, Leyland Motors 12 points
Fleetwood 224-6 (50 overs) (Sherlock 100, Hague 75*), Morecambe 127-3 (34.3 overs)
(Edge 40)
Fleetwood 7 points, Morecambe 3 points
BAY 96.9 NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
DIVISION TWO
| Club |
P |
W15 |
W12 |
D4 |
D1 |
L |
NR4 |
BP |
Pts |
| Lancaster |
11 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
11 |
108 |
| Fleetwood |
11 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
16 |
95 |
| Netherfield |
11 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
8 |
91 |
| Morecambe |
11 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
9 |
89 |
| Darwen |
11 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
75 |
| St Annes |
11 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
74 |
| Chorley |
11 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
7 |
54 |
| Leyland |
11 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
7 |
51 |
| Preston |
11 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
11 |
51 |
| Kendal |
11 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
8 |
45 |
| Leyland Motors |
11 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
7 |
43 |
| Blackpool |
11 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
10 |
31 |
