Cricket review: Torrisholme secure the title ahead of a pivotal final day’s fixtures

Torrisholme will play in the Northern Premier Cricket League next season after clinching the Palace Shield Championship title on Saturday.

They collected a 14th win of the season in beating Netherfield’s seconds by 58 runs at Boundary Meadow.

Having opted to bat first, Torrisholme compiled 238-7 from their 45 overs as Noor Elahi took centre stage.

He struck half-a-dozen fours and sixes in making 82 from 62 balls, putting on 96 for the sixth wicket with James Cookson (32 not out).

That saw Torrisholme recover from 110-5, having been 60-1 at one stage with Sam Brown hitting 43.

Netherfield’s reply saw them all out for 180 in 40.4 overs, losing their last six wickets for only 37 runs.

It started with the exit of skipper Shane Dixon (60), who dominated a fifth-wicket stand of 78 with Oliver Sanday (46).

Both fell to Jack Heap, who ran through the Netherfield batting in taking 7-76 in 14.4 overs.

Only penalty points can deny Torrisholme title as they sit 14 points clear of their final day opponents Heysham, who were 66-run winners at Garstang’s seconds.

Heysham were asked to bat first at the Riverside, where their 45 overs ended with them on 178-8.

Lewis Plackett top-scored with 47 before falling to Cian Gorst, whose figures of 4-28 made him Garstang’s top performer with the ball.

Garstang’s response saw them bundled out for 112 in 30 overs, having been 37-6 at one stage as Jamie Cassidy took 4-21.

Mason Sear (32) and Josh Woodhead (31) added 56 for the seventh wicket before the last four batters were dismissed in the space of 19 runs.

Elsewhere, Lancaster were seven-wicket winners against Westgate at Lune Road.

Westgate were put in and completed their overs on 176-8 as seven batters made double figures but Andrew Powers’ 39 not out was the top score.

Kieran Moffat claimed 4-48 and Hayden Simm 3-58 for Lancaster, who replied with 177-3 in 40.1 overs.

Suprith Yadav (49) and Eddie Steinson (42) put on 89 for the second wicket before an unbroken stand of 67 between Jamie Heywood (39 not out) and Ahmad Zarmalwal (34 not out) saw them home.

That leaves Lancaster fifth ahead of Saturday’s trip to Vernon Carus, while eighth-placed Westgate host Eccleston.

Morecambe remained seven points ahead of Barrow in the race for fourth place in division one of the NPCL after victory on Saturday.

Their penultimate match of the season brought a six-wicket win at Whalley, where Lloyd Smith took 4-54 in the home side’s 211 all out.

That total was almost entirely thanks to a fifth-wicket stand of 154 between Hamish Mullavey-Clark (91) and Sam Jackson (70).

Morecambe’s reply ended with them reaching 213-4 in 38 overs as Alex Briggs hit 71 not out from 53 balls, sharing a stand of 90 with Lewis Smith (43 not out).

Their final game is a home match against third-bottom Thornton Cleveleys, one of four teams separated by only two points in the race for survival.

Carnforth, who occupy the second relegation spot, visit Barrow after beating bottom club Great Eccleston by 30 runs.

Jaco Beneke’s undefeated 118 helped Carnforth to 229-7, which included a stand of 83 with James Park Johnson (44).

Great Ecc’s reply saw them dismissed for 199 with three balls left, Mohammed Fazil (82) offering the main resistance as Dylan Conrot claimed 3-16.