Oli Battersby scores 62 not out as Morecambe 3s win Kendal Trophies Division 3 Cup

Leven Valley won the toss and put Morecambe into bat first, with Kev Demain’s side making 154 at the loss of just two wickets in 20 overs.

George Needham (1-16) and Richie Marshall (1-33) were the only players to take wickets for Leven Valley.

Morecambe had a decent start to their innings, with the first pair putting on 29 before George Battersby (10) fell in the seventh over, bowled by Needham.

At the halfway stage, Morecambe were 57-1, and opener Demain (30) fell the next over, caught by Needham off Marshall’s bowling – ending a partnership worth 35 runs.

This brought Adam Horrobin (31*) to the crease, who ably supported Oli Battersby at the other end with a host of singles while Battersby hit six fours and one six as the pair powered Morecambe to 154-2, scoring 90 in just over nine overs.

Leven Valley never really got to grips with the required run rate, as they made less than 100 in the 20 overs.

By the end of the powerplay, they were 21-2 with Paul Webster (6) and Kyle Hinds (7) the men to depart – the duo both caught behind off the bowling of Mark Armistead (2-16).

And by the halfway stage, they were just 32-3, needing a further 123 to win in what was becoming ever so more an unlikely proposition.

Luke Deveney (9) was the third wicket to fall, bowled by Archie Graves (3-28) in the first ball of his spell.

Three more wickets fell in the next five overs – Needham (17), Tony Johnson (2) and Matt Butel (12), two of which game off Graves’ bowling. Lawrence Ramakannu (1-26) claimed the wicket of Butel.

Freddie Burrow (15) departed in the 19th over, bowled by Dineshmanickam Annadurai (1-11) and Marshall was bowled by Alex Hill (1-13) in the final over, meaning every Morecambe bowler got at least one wicket.

Leven Valley finished up on 98-8 in a chase that wasn’t particularly entertaining, thanks to good economical bowling by Morecambe.