Morecambe win at Clifton in ECB National Club Championship
Alex Thistlethwaite steered Morecambe home in a tense finish |
Morecambe's new-look side safely negotiated their first competitive test of the season with a thrilling three-wicket win over Clifton in their ECB National Club Championship Group Five tie.
Alex Thistlethwiate kept his nerve in a tense finish to steer his side home with one ball to spare against the Central Lancashire League side at their Manchester Road ground.
Thistlewaite is one of several Morecambe youngsters expected to be given his chance of an extended run in Tommy Clough's side this season and will have gained confidence from his impressive innings.
He finished with an unbeaten 34 as Morecambe successfully chased down Clifton's testing total of 227 for 5.
Ryan Smith, who has been selected for Lancashire U19s trial games took two wickets and newcomers Chris Williams and Richard Cupit, who have both joined Morecambe from Westmorland League clubs also played their parts in an impressive team performance.
Opener Mark Woodhead top-scored with 66 in Morecambe's replay and looked in prime form, while Phil Dennison (39) and Ikram Ullah (33) also batted well.
The Clifton CC ground was in superb condition despite the ravages of the winter weather and the pitch was described by one Morecambe player as being in the best condition he had seen at this time of the year.
After Smith had Clifton opener Chris Lord caught by Dennison for 14 to leave the home side 23 for 1, the second wicket pair of Andy Griffiths and Alex Rodzock then batted impressively for the home side.
Griffiths was the more dominant partner in his return to his home town club after a two-year stint as professional with Spring View in the Bolton Association.
He had made 84 before he was bowled by Smith in the 35th over , after sharing an entertaining partnership of 157.
Rodzock also made 84 before he was fourth man out, bowled by Morecambe skipper Clough, whose tidy off-spin helped put a brake on the home batsmen.
Clough was Morecambe's most successful bowler with impressive figures of three for 26 from his nine overs.
Club chairman Nick Milner bowled nine overs for only 33 runs with his left-arm spin and also pouched two fine catches in the deep, though he split the webbing in his right hand taking the second catch.
After at one stage looking set for a total over the 250-mark Clifton may have been disappointed with their 227 for 6 on a good batting track.
Smith took two for 59 for Morecambe with Williams (0-43) and Cupit (0-59) also completing nine-over stints.
Tommy Clough took three for 26 for Morecambe |
Woodhead's 66 sets Morecambe on victory path
Mark Woodhead top-scored for Morecambe with 66 |
Dennison got Morecambe's reply off to an enterprising start, making a fluent 39 in an opening stand of 59 with Woodhead before he was pinned leg before by Alex Rodzock.
Ikram Ullah then looked in fine form and took the attack to the home bowlers, making 33 out of a second wicket stand of 44 with Woodhead before he was leg before to Greg Jennings.
Woodhead then took over, reaching his 50 out of 138 in the 31st over and going on to make 66 before he was caught in the deep off Clifton left arm spinner Andy Hough.
Morecambe still needed 65 off nine overs after Woodhead's dismissal and they suffered a wobble as Smith was bowled by Hough for 1, Williams run out for a patient 21, Ian Izzat caught for 13 and Clough run out for 3.
But Thistlethwaite held firm and safely negotiated the onerous task of scoring 35 off the last four overs with some clean hitting on either side of the wicket. Cupit (2 not out) helped him add 18 for the eighth wicket and Thistlethwaite hit the winning boundary with one ball remaining.
Morecambe will now visit the winners of the Golborne-Leyland tie in the next round.
Scores:
Clifton 227 for 6 (45 overs) (Andy Griffiths 84, Alex Rodzock 84, Tommy Clough 3 for 26); Morecambe 228 for 7 (44.5 overs) (Mark Woodhead 66, Phil Dennison 39).
Morecambe won by three wickets at 7.07pm
Morecambe CC chairman Nick Milner played a key role |
