Blackpool v Morecambe
Blackpool 2nd XI captain Andy Griffiths has kindly supplied the report of his side's game against Morecambe last weekend:
Blackpool took on a strong Morecambe side at Stanley Park in the second part of a double-header, with this game brought forward from August 30th, when Blackpool will host Lancashire versus Surrey in the County Championship.
With Michael Taylor and Michael Penney left out of the side so that they could be available to the 1st XI should form / fitness / availability issues arise for the equivalent 1st XI fixtures, this was to prove costly as the side was clearly short of 2 batsmen.
After heavy morning rain, a mopping up operation was required which saw 15 overs trimmed from the game. On winning the toss, Blackpool captain Andy Griffiths asked Morecambe to bat.
The decision was vindicated first ball when Andy Armstrong had Ben Akrigg caught behind by Ben Heath, but despite a number of "play and misses" and after having Andrew Armstrong (the Morecambe number 3) caught behind off a no-ball (Chris Taylor the unfortunate bowler!) the attack-minded Morecambe top order tried to set the pace.
However, having made an appearance in the 3rd XI the day before, Luke Melville came on to produce a truly inspired spell of bowling, and with both Lewis Edge (21) and Andrew Armstrong (25) well set he lured both of them into offering edges to the ever alert Ben Heath behind the stumps.
Luke then found an absolute snorter to dismiss opposition captain Nick Milner for a first ball duck, but as a 19 year old under the ECB regulations he had to be removed from the attack after his 7th over and with the game reduced to 35 overs was not able to return at any stage, a real shame considering his performance, with figures of 3-12 in 7 overs just reward and the perfect response to his omission the day before. Well done Luke...!
Blackpool bowlers Andy Armstrong and David Booth |
Morecambe skipper Nick Milner is bowled by Luke Melville |
Ian Izzatt and the impressive Lancashire youngster Ryan Smith re-built and when possible found the big shots to keep the score-board ticking over. Izzatt (14) was caught at mid off by Andy Armstrong, a catch he was extremely pleased with following some banter between the two, and Smith (30) holed out in the deep off the bowling of Mercer, a well judged catch taken by the assured captain.
Law (20 not out) and Cassidy (20) took the score to a respectable yet
distinctly gettable 140, with the 7th wicket falling in the 34th over, Mercer bowling Cassidy, who had earlier deposited him over the head of our substitute fielder, first team opening bowler Rick Gleeson, whose attempt to time the catch and stumble backwards was sadly missed by the camera work of Mike Latham. Some were heard to comment that the veteran David Newton, who was in the changing room flexing a sore back, would have made a better effort (unlikely - Ed).
Blackpool set about their target all guns blazing, especially after the loss of Nicky Wall (2) brought Steve Mercer to the crease to join veteran David Newton. Merse played two of the most glorious shots you could wish to see with a scintillating drive through point on the off-side hitting the boundary wall almost as soon as he hit it and a glorious 6 over extra cover. Newton also found some timing in his trusty blade as he deposited the ball to the boundary almost at will.
After 9 overs the score-board showed 45, but Mercer had been caught and bowled by Ryan Smith for 12, a dismissal which severely stunted our scoring rate. As our veteran batsmen Robin Bracewell and David Newton ensured that wickets were in the bag for the final onslaught, the scoring rate which at one stage was 3.7 runs per over, crept up and up, as Cassidy was allowed to find his rhythm, and the left arm spin of Nick Milner was starting to take effect.
In Bracey's words, as the ball lost its hardness, it became very difficult to get away.
In fairness, that may well have been the case, but there were a number of singles missed, and a number of 1's could have been turned into 2's (and 2's into 3's) if fitter, younger lads were at the crease.
When Bracey hit one up in the air to be swallowed up by cover for 11, the scoring rate required was up to 7 runs required per over. With Newts at the crease, if he could get out of his own mini slump, this was still a distinct possibility, and after reaching his half-century, the hope was he would kick on but he was out for 52, and if the veterans, who have seen it all and done it all before were finding it so difficult to score, it was no surprise that under the pressure of a run chase the youngsters in our team couldn't score at the required rate from the off.
Blackpool veteran David Newton made 52 |
Chris Taylor was stumped off Milner for 3, Andy Griffiths popped a leading edge up in the air off Milner for 3, Jarred Bain missed a straight one off Cassidy, to be out for 3 (a certain symmetry in the score-book there!).
With the difference between drawing and losing only a point (2 points versus 3), the tail continued to flail, when a more astute approach would have been to prevent our visitors taking the full 15 points, but try we did until the end, but the defeat was assured when Luke was caught behind (and stumped!) for 2, Boothy was run out for 7, and Ben Heath who had played two lovely shots to leg was out for 7 to give Morecambe the victory as we were very disappointingly all out for 112 in the 34th over. Andy Armstrong, once more, improved his batting average with 5 not out.
Cassidy, having been belted around the park in his opening five overs, came back admirably to finish with 5-49 off 17, and Nick Milner having taken 6 wickets in the earlier league game between the sides, picked up another 3-34 off 12 overs.
Graeme Cassidy took 5 wickets in Morecambe's victory |
There are a number of lessons to be learned from this game, our inability to move our feet and display a controlled positive intent against spin bowling, running between the wickets to apply more pressure to the fielding side (Morecambe tested us to the full when they were batting!) being two of the more obvious.
Whilst our search for the title is not yet over, it is hard to see Chorley slipping up so many times on the run-in, but we must fight hard to try and win every game we play and maintain a challenge so that we finish in the highest league position possible. With a league and cup double-header to come next weekend, there is no better opportunity to put this disappointment behind us.
