Morecambe underlined their title challenge with a convincing six-wicket victory over Barrow at Woodhill Lane, eventually cruising to a victory target of only 121.

Barrow will be disappointed to go away from a game in which they competed well without a single bonus point to show for their efforts, but their disappointing batting on a slow, seaming wicket proved their undoing.

Mark Lomas invited Barrow to bat after winning the toss and the visitors made a disastrous start.

Darren Clark was deceived by Gareth Pedder's slower ball and was caught and bowled for a duck, before teenage opener Jon Miles was caught behind off Pedder to leave the visitors 7-2.

Professional Pasan Wanasinghe went on to bat through the rest of the innings, but while the Sri Lankan looked a class batsman, he never looked to dominate the bowling or put pressure on the field and so Morecambe were rarely troubled as the innings ambled along.

Ian Kermode and Ian Allington never got on top of the bowling despite long stays at the crease, the former falling leg before to Jono Gates for 15 and the latter bowled by Morecambe professional Bruce Martin for 22.

Morecambe's bowling attack looked impressive, with Pedder bowling a good early spell and Gates reeling off 12 overs that deserved more than his single-wicket haul.

Left-armers Lee and Martin then bowled for the second half of the innings and each picked up a couple of wickets.

Wanasinghe was soon in action again with the ball, troubling the Morecambe batsmen with his movement off the seam.

He had Vishal Goyal caught behind off the first ball of the innings, bowled Mark Woodhead for six and then saw Lomas play-on for four to leave Morecambe struggling at 20- 3.

But former Morecambe skipper Phil Thornton survived the early carnage and in partnership with Martin settled the ship.

The pair's fourth-wicket partnership of 76 took Morecambe safely towards their victory target, before Martin was caught behind for 36 off Wanasinghe.

But Thornton, who batted impressively, and Phil Dennison, steered More-cambe home with nearly 20 overs to spare.

Barrow 2nd 172- 8
Morecambe 2nd 174-8
3D Sports Northern League Division 2

Morecambe won the toss and elected to bowl, however, four players were delayed which meant the new ball was entrusted to youth and experience.
Maje provided the experience and bowled a miserly spell of seven overs for 11 runs, ably supported by Ryan Smith.

Barrow batted very steadily until the introduction of Graham Cassidy who had Adams well caught by Milner and then Milner secured a freak stumping off the boot of John Cassidy.

Morecambe maintained control right though the Barrow innings and only a last-over flurry enabled Barrow to reach respectability.

Morecambe's reply couldn't have got off to a worse start, losing the prolific Maje and Thistlewaite for first ball ducks quickly followed by Izzat run out for 0.

When Akrigg fell for 24 it was looking like an uphill struggle. Smith unleashed a barrage of driven boundaries, supported by an out-of-character Fisher.

Smith fell for 51 which brought the shot-a-ball Milner to the wicket and he swiftly moved the score along.

Fisher was out for 13 bringing new boy Martins to the wicket with more than 40 still needed.

After a nervy start and the loss of Milner for 35 he guided Morecambe home with six overs to spare.

Chorley 169-8
Morecambe 142-7
3D Sports Northern League
Division One

ON Bank Holiday Monday, Morecambe travelled to Chorley who won the toss and decided to bat.

Openers Tolley and Catterall got them away to a good start, Tolley eventually going for 54 and Catterall 41.

The middle order then collapsed, the next four batsmen mustering just seven runs between them, before Moulton's unbeaten 40 pushed the final total to 169-8.

Vishal Goyal put his first-ball duck on Saturday behind him and his half-century was the mainstay of Morecambe's reply.

But despite late support from Martin, Pedder and Dennison, the chase fell short at 142-7, as Chorley secured a winning draw.

Chorley 2nd 114
Morecambe 2nd 84
3D Sports Northern League
Division Two

ON A slow pitch and even slower outfield Chorley were asked to bat, and their progress was very slow, the first boundary not coming until the 22nd over.

Wickets also fell at regular intervals after the introduction of Milner, only the stubborn resistance of Richardson (38) preventing Chorley being bowled out for a low score.

Chorley's last wicket pair took the score from 85-9 to 114, with what proved to be a match winning partnership.

Milner finishing with superb figures of 7-42.

Morecambe's reply couldn't have got off to a worst start Akrigg and Thistlewaite falling off the first two balls of the innings.

Izzat and Smith began a patient recovery but runs were very hard to come by and Smith was caught for 19.

Fisher played on to his own stumps first ball followed soon after by Izzat the same way after a patient 21.

Martins (12), Law (15) & Milner (9) all made starts, but wickets fell at regular intervals, to give Chorley a 30-run win.