A FIVE wicket haul from Yakub Bhamji helped Morecambe skittle Netherfield out for 153 on their way to victory at a sun-soaked Woodhill Lane.

The Parkside Road outfit were chased down with more than 30 balls to spare - mainly down to a third wicket stand of 74 runs between South African professional Kelly Smuts and Ryan Pearson.

Netherfield captain Marc Brown won the toss and chose to bat but the decision backfired as they lost opener Ben Barrow to the third ball.

Bhamji took his first wicket as Ben Phillips was caught at second slip and John Huck followed Phillips back into the pavilion when he was caught and bowled by Smuts.

That dismissal left Netherfield struggling on 14-3 in the fourth over.

The situation began to improve as Sri Lankan professional Saliya Saman joined Brown at the crease for a 25-run stand but that was broken when Saman was caught by Smuts for 10 in the 14th over.

Brown carried on his good form with youngster Tom Williamson who together pushed the total to 92 before Brown fell six short of a half-century when he was caught in cover off the bowling of Sharma.

Williamson, of Lancaster Royal Grammar School, provided further resistance and the left-handed youngster reached 41 – but when he was dismissed off the bowling of Smuts Netherfield found themselves on 123-6.

Joe Atkinson, Mark Clarkson and Ryan Wilson added 26 from the final 60 balls to push them to 153-9 off their 50 allotted overs.

Bhamji finished with the most impressive bowling figures as his five wickets yielded just 42 runs off 16 overs – including five maidens.

Netherfield’s bowlers knew they would have to start well if they had any chance of securing a victory.

And they got off to a dream start when confusion between openers Ikram Ullah and vice-captain Josh Dixon saw the former Kendal man run out by Saman.

Fast-bowler Saman steamed in the next ball and dismissed Morecambe captain Dixon lbw for a golden duck - leaving the Lancashire club suffering on 0-2 after four balls.

But that only brought Smuts and Pearson to the crease. Smuts smashed 47 off 50 balls before he was bowled by Nathan Chambers in the 18th over.

The damage was already done as Pearson, helped by Lewis Edge (24) and Craig Atkinson (18) steered Morecambe to a two-wicket victory with five overs left.