2ND XI ROUND UP – WEEK 6 (1 JUNE)

Date: 7th June 2019

....something great to read if the weather is as bad as they forecast!

All of the five Premier Division games followed a similar pattern. The away side won the toss and chose to bat, with four of the teams scoring around 140 with the fifth within touching distance of 160. Four of these sides returned home defeated and one left with a draw.

It was a bowler's day for honours. George Scanlon collected his first five wicket haul as Formby took advantage of the overnight leader's defeat to close within six points at the head of the table. He then added 34 crucial runs to ensure his return of 5 for 24 was fully rewarded. There was a strong start by the top 3 from Wigan led by Power's 36, which then somewhat fizzled out with six wickets falling for the addition of 26. Jones (39) and Cockbain led the reply.

Wallasey needed 46 not out from Martin Williams playing his first game of the season aided by 26 from last man Colin Rivett in a 68 run last wicket partnership to enable them to set a reasonable target. Liam Martlew with 5 for 42 for Orrell RT. Stuart Craig with 39 and Jarryd McCulloch sealed a five-wicket victory after a steady flow of wickets.

Nathan Wilkes with 46 was the top scorer for New Brighton as they eased to a seven-wicket victory over Southport & Birkdale who had scored 133. Another five-wicket haul in this game too, Andrew Evans conceding 35 runs in his spell. The division's top scorer was Chris Barry of Colwyn Bay with 72 who contributed more than half of his side's total of 159. Their wickets shared by Fretwell, Zubair and Aitchison. Elliott Supria then added his own 50 to keep Sefton Park within sight of the top.

Jack Woosey was another bowler to return with the match ball with five for 49 as Northern and Lytham ended in a draw with the home side running out of overs and ending up just seven runs shy on a day when the weather again played a significant part.

Division One leader's Bootle continued to impress with a 48-run victory over Birkenhead Park. Put into bat, Joe Nagle hit his second score of 80 of the season as he laid the backbone to the home side's total of 154. Five wickets for Park's David Evans as he induced a clutch of catches to clean up the lower order. Three batsmen reached 20 in reply but couldn't progress further as the Bootle bowlers dominated. Nathan Siddall taking three wickets in the ten balls he sent down.

Challengers Ainsdale's ever reliable Adam Friar added six more victims to this season's total as they dismissed Rainhill for 106. Australian Fred McClure helped to knock off the required runs in a five-wicket win. Richard Millington led the way with an unbeaten 64 in Maghull's comfortable win at Rainford despite the rival attraction of 80s band T'Pau performing nearby. Also, on song was Bill Powell with 4 for 15 as only Tom Dillon with 49 offered much resistance.

Samuel Anderson hit a maiden 50, ending up with 69 as Old Xaverians overcame local rivals Wavertree by 8 wickets. Ian Formby with 4 wickets as Kulasekaran with 50 and Robin Lloyd 45 had enabled the home team to reach 160. Rose and Macaulay making useful contributions for the victors. After Jay Melling (64) and Andy Cowley (57) had put together what was probably a century opening stand for Sutton, there was chance of an upset from the bottom placed team fielding just nine players as they looked to overhaul Newton LW's formidable target of 215. Callum Hewitt then put the brakes on with his third five wicket haul of the campaign. Euan Tully had recorded his best score of 87 aided by 61 not out from Daniel Duxbury for Newton.

Middle order pair Howard Bamber hit 63 and John Green 53 as they recovered from 19 for 3 to declare at 195. Will Gregory the best of Highfield's bowlers with 4. A collapse from 38 for 1 to 44 for 7 knocked the heart out of the reply with Andrew Bowes returning amazing figures of 5 for nought.

The winnings sides in Division Two all did so without much fuss. Leaders Leigh dismissed Alder for under three figures with Kasey Bentham with his first “fivefa” of the year. Low and Howard hitting 30s in the chase. Northop Hall were made to field for 50 overs by Caldy who inched towards 115. Sumraiz Butt with eight 4s in his patient 47. Jeevan Kurukkal closing in on 200 (play cricket) wickets with his 5 for 29. Matthew Dunning with 51 in an eight-wicket win.

Norley Hall has a bad second half of the game after restricting Burscough to a “gettable” 125. Patrick Connolly with 55, the main architect of the home side score. Four wickets each for Lee Jackson and Callum Craven (his for just 5 runs conceded) as Hall dismissed cheaply.

Southport Trinity's return journey along the coast was with an eight wicket win in their pockets as Alokbandaralage claimed five for 38 to restrict Fleetwood Hesketh to 139. Jack Wallbank's 40 was his best as this level. Joe Damen with 55 not out for Trinity and Butler 41. Prestatyn failed to raise a side to travel to Hightown St Marys on a day when a certain football match took place.