Netherfield back to winning ways with comfortable triumph over Morecambe (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Netherfield back to winning ways with comfortable triumph over Morecambe

4:00pm Monday 9th July 2012 in Other teams By Scott Kirk, Reporter

NETHERFIELD’S poor recent form was brought to a halt with an easy eight-wicket success over Morecambe.

The Parkside Road outfit’s last victory in all competitions came against Kendal in the Twenty20 Cup on June 12, although the side have been unlucky with the weather.

But there were no such problems on Saturday when Netherfield won the toss and asked Morecambe to bat first.

The away side got off to a steady start, Ikram Ullah and Mark Woodhead scoring 32 before Chris Williams trapped Ullah LBW for 19 in the 12th over.

Pakistan international and pro Umar Amin came in at number three and he looked like the only candidate to challenge Netherfield after Woodhead was caught by a superb diving catch from Stuart Dixon off Williams in the 16th over.

Amin and Tom Barnfield put on a partnership of 46 to take the away side up to 81-2 but a horrendous mix-up between the batters saw Amin run out for 33, Morecambe’s top scorer in the innings.

Barnfield set off despite Amin’s adamant gesture to stay in his crease, and with both players at the non-strikers end, the home side easily ran the pro out in the 34th over to leave Morecambe struggling.

Their run rate was just over two per over as all of Netherfield’s bowlers chipped in with wickets.

With two overs remaining Morecambe were 129-6, but they were reduced to 131-9 by the end of the 49th - John Mason superbly running out Ryan Smith (seven) from the boundary.

Pro Cobus Pienaar then clean-bowled Gareth Pedder for eight before Chris Parry caught Michael Fisher for a duck.

In the final over Pienaar then caught Gert Maartens after he skied the ball off Williams for Morecambe to finish 132 all out.

The batting order was once again changed by Netherfield captain John Mason as he opened with Marc Brown.

But the decision was justified as the duo put on an 82-run partnership, the pair scoring 18 in the crucial sixth over, to leave Netherfield cruising at more than five runs per over.

Brown will have been disappointed with his dismissal as he meekly chipped the ball to Pedder at short-mid-on for 32 off Smith’s bowling, but the home side were cruising at 82-1, needing just a further 51 runs with 32 overs left.

Pienaar (eight) was harshly ruled LBW off Tom Barnfield in the 22nd over, but Mason was mightily impressive, hitting 81 off 66 balls to wrap the match up by the 25th over.

The 12 points lifted Netherfield above Leyland into third.