Final-day defeats for local sides and relegation for Westgate

Morecambe CC secured a top-four finish in Northern Premier Cricket League division two despite losing their final game at home to Thornton Cleveleys.

The two-wicket win secured TC's survival as they chased down Morecambe's 151-9 from 42 overs.

Opener Andrew Creech made 41 but the rest of Morecambe's top six managed 10 between them as Evan Chandler claimed 5-53.

The hosts recovered from 33-5 as Creech shared 62 with Stefan Dixon (32) but it wasn't enough as TC sealed victory in 40.2 overs at 152-8.

Dixon was unlucky to be a loser after his career-best 6-37 from 13 overs and his side looked favourites after reducing TC from 72-3 to 76-6.

But then Christopher Hedges saw TC home with an unbeaten 37, sharing an unbroken stand of 53 with number 10 Ethan Chandler (17 not out).

Morecambe's four points from the defeat kept them in fourth spot ahead of Whalley, a satisfying placing in their first season in the two-tier NPCL following promotion as Palace Shield champions.

They were 57 points behind third-placed Euxton, whose final-day defeat away to champions Fleetwood cost them promotion. It enabled Fulwood & Broughton to climb into second spot with a 153-run thrashing of Preston, who were relegated with bottom club Great Eccleston.

Morecambe will be joined in division two next season by the Palace Shield's top two Torrisholme and Heysham, who met on the final day.

Hosts Heysham secured second spot with a comfortable eight-wicket win over the champions, who were dismissed for 103 in 26.5 overs.

Noor Elahi scored 40 for Torrisholme but none the six batters who followed him in managed more than six as Sam Calverley took 5-33.

Calverley then completed a man-of-the-match display with 66 as his opening stand of 80 with Lee Calverley (25) propelled Heysham to victory in barely 12 overs at 104-2.

It meant Heysham sealed promotion ahead of Penrith and finished just three points behind Torrisholme.

Westgate have been relegated after a three-wicket home defeat by Eccleston.

Westgate posted 153-4 from 37 overs as captain Craig Buchanan scored an unbeaten 55, sharing 77 with wicketkeeper Lewin Maladay (38).

However, Buchanan's Ecc counterpart Thomas Foster had the final say, the skipper carrying his bat for 84 and leading his side to victory at 155-7 in 36.4 overs despite RP Don's 4-51.

In a division in which the bottom three go down, Fylde and Vernon Carus both won their last match to climb above Westgate, who drop into division one with Burneside and bottom club Garstang 2.

Lancaster did Westgate no favours, losing by three wickets at Vernons in another rain-affected game.

Lancaster posted 200-7 from 37 overs as Eddie Steinson made 50 and shared 106 for the third wicket with Ahmad Zarmalwal (47).

The Preston side sealed survival with 203-7 from 36.5 overs as Hasan Zaman finished unbeaten on 77, having shared 64 with Jamie Rigby (22).

Lancaster slip to sixth in the final standings, below Eccleston on run rate.