Torrisholme pull further ahead in title race after rain-hit weekend

Torrisholme Cricket Club could clinch promotion and even the Palace Shield Championship title this weekend after a seven-wicket win at Fylde.

LAST WEEK: Torrisholme take over at top

They increased their lead at the top from eight to 14 points with just two games to play after second-placed Heysham were rained off at home to Lancaster.

Fylde's slump in form continued on Saturday as they were restricted to 176-7 by Torrisholme, a total reached thanks to a fourth-wicket stand of 85 between Dan Smith (54) and captain Phil Brown (49).

On a rare rain-affected weekend, the Torrisholme target was adjusted to 162, which they reached with 11 of their 39 overs to spare.

The platform for victory at 162-3 was laid by opener Sam Brown, whose 76 featured 13 boundaries and a stand of 70 with Sujay Bethan (20) for the first wicket.

Having won four of their five games in August, Torrisholme could earn a place in the Northern Premier League for the first time this weekend, when they host Netherfield 2 in their final home game.

To prevent them doing so, Heysham and Penrith (who are a point further back in third), must close the gap on the penultimate weekend.

Heysham were grateful the rains came at Lancaster, where they were 38-3 chasin 209.

Opener Suprith Yadav made 57 but Lancaster slipped from 121-3 to 126-7 before Janko Grime's unbeaten 30.

Heysham will hope victory at relegated bottom club Garstang 2 on Saturday will set up a final-day title showdown at home to Torrisholme.

Penrith remained in the three-way title race with an eight-wicket win at Westgate, who were all out for 72.

No home batter scored more than 10 as Sam Sharp took 6-34 and Penrith polished off the victory at 75-2 in 15.3 overs.

In the mid-table battle for bragging rights, Westgate are now five points behind Lancaster before visiting them on Saturday.

Morecambe's home game with Lytham was one of two abandoned in NPCL division two on Saturday.

Relegation-battling Lytham will have been happier with the early finish, having struggled to 36-4 chasing a revised target of 176 from 44 overs after Morecambe posted 184.

The highlight was a season's best 64 from Alex Briggs, who put on 102 for the third wicket with Andrew Creech (35) to lift the hosts from 4-2.

Sahaan Sahaan took 5-33 but his Lytham side were soon in deep trouble at 20-4, though they added 16 without further loss before play ended 11 overs into their reply.

The four points lifted Morecambe above Barrow into fourth, though they will climb no higher.

Morecambe hosted promotion-chasing Fulwood &Broughton on holiday Monday ahead of Saturday's final road trip of the year to Whalley.

Morecambe have said a fond farewell to Siddarth Ahhuja, who scored 1,012 runs and took 64 wickets in 30 games this season.

'Sid' saw his season ended early by injury but he returns home to India with the best wishes and thanks of all at Morecambe.

A club statement reads: "It’s been an absolute pleasure having Sid play for Morecambe. Not only has he been a great guy on and off the pitch but he’s also been a fantastic role model and inspiration to our juniors.

"Thank you, Sid. You’ll always be part of the Morecambe family."