Morecambe close in on title following bank holiday win

Suraj Randiv terrorised the Lancaster batting line-up with figures of 5 for 15 before opener Gareth Pedder blasted an unbeaten 49 to seal an emphatic nine-wicket win.

Batting first Lancaster’s openers moved the score onto 40 for 0 before Eddy Read finally got his just rewards, yorking Charlie Swarbrick for 21.

Randiv replaced Cassidy and made immediate inroads. His opposite number Rameez Raja didn’t trouble the scorers, dancing down and missed a big-turning off-break before Jamie Heywood (1) did exactly the same thing a few overs.

With Randiv into a rhythm 47 for 3 quickly became 48 for 4 as another sharp, spitting off-break gave Sam Moorby little chance as an inside scratch ballooned to Lewis Edge.

Alex Metcalfe’s stubborn knock came to a close as Josh Dixon looked to change his bowlers around.

Tommy Clough joined Randiv in tandem and removed the left-hander lbw prodding forward for 31 in his first over.

Randiv returned from the River End to have Stuart Phillips (3) lbw sweeping before capping off his five-wicket haul as Lee Sparks (3) holed out to deep mid-wicket.

Ben Simm and Matthew Liver ticked Lancaster past 80 but the recovery didn’t last long.

Clough wrapped up the innings, first finding Liver’s leading edge before bowling Simm through the gate for 16.

With Lancaster’s 11th man failing to make an appearance, the nine wickets to fall equated to a paltry 89 all out for the hosts.

With little scoreboard pressure, Morecambe openers Mark Woodhead and Gareth Pedder attacked from the off.

Woodhead tore into Simm, planting 14 off the spinner’s first over while Liam Moffat suffered at the bat of Pedder.

Simm picked up the consolatory wicket of Woodhead, gloving behind for 26 but by then the innings had become less of a chase and more of a procession.

Pedder finished unbeaten on a swashbuckling 49 while Suraj Randiv’s eight not out ensured an emphatic nine wicket win for Morecambe and a huge step on their journey to the league 
title.