Tables turned

In the first cup encounter Morecambe easily overcame their visitors but in the Vaux Northern League Division One game on Saturday, Blackpool completely turned the tables and ran out winners by six wickets.

Acting skipper Paul Danson won the toss, put Morecambe in to bat and then saw his bowlers restrict the home side to 144-8 from the 50 overs.

In reply, Blackpool never looked in any danger and aided by a splendid opening partnership of 98 between Robin Bracewell and Martin Pickles they scored 145-4 to win by six wickets with seven of the final 20 overs unused.

Morecambe's start was cautious.

Mark Woodhead at one end kept the scoreboard moving, albeit slowly in the face of some accurate bowling from Marcus Sharp and David Cresswell, while at the other Karl Hansson was unable to get the ball off the square.

The pair put on 39 before Woodhead, 33, was beaten and bowled by a vicious breakback from Cresswell. Hansson surprisingly struck two fours in one over from Sharp but this was his last moment of resistance as in his following over the Blackpool professional extracted his revenge and bowled him for 14 with the total on 63.

South African professional Ashwell Prince sparkled briefly with one pulled four off Cresswell the shot of the day, but when he had made 18 he was caught by Danson off Cresswell and Morecambe were 76-4.

Prince had already seen Tommy Clough bowled by Sharp for one while he was at the crease.

Morecambe captain Phil Thornton survived a vibrant appeal for a catch behind off Sharp before becoming the paceman's 100th league wicket for his club when he fell to Sharp's admirably disguised slower ball and only succeeded in skying a catch to Crane when he had made six.

Cresswell bowled Eccles for 10, Namajee bowled Maje for 13 and then Graham Fisher with one or two forceful blows in his 19 took the total to 123 before he was snapped up at slip with consummate ease by Bracewell off Sharp who returned 4-71 from his 25 overs.

Gudgeon, 10 not out, and Pedder, six not out, saw Morecambe through to the close of the innings at 144-8.

Blackpool's reply started very promisingly with Bracewell taking heavy toll of Gareth Pedder's bowling, striking four boundaries in his opening three overs.

With Pickles accumulating at the other end, Blackpool's score mounted quickly.

The introduction of Eccles and Prince slowed down the rate but the bowling still presented no problems to the Blackpool batsmen.

The total had reached 98 when Pedder was reintroduced into the attack and he struck immediately. Pickles, 40, cut him staight to Prince at point and the South African, who rivals compatriot Jonty Rhodes in the field, held the catch. Armstrong, four, came and went leg before wicket to Prince, Cornall, nought, fell the same way to Pedder and then Bracewell, 54 from 117 balls with nine fours, was caught by Fisher off Prince with the total on 123.

Debutant John Crane joined skipper Danson and the pair had no difficulty in adding the 22 runs needed for a comfortable victory.

And it was fitting that Paul Danson should straight drive the winning runs off the bowling of Prince.

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