2nd XI Round up - Week 3
Date: 16th May 2022
Nine for Thompson
2nd XI Round up – Week 3 (7 May)
In the Premier Division, Newton le Willows came within a hairs breadth of victory as Paul was run out off the last ball looking to steal a single that would have given them victory at leaders Formby's expense. They finished with the score level. Liam Jenkins laid the bedrock of the Newton reply with 76 before becoming one of Tom Stacy's five victims (already his third successive five wicket or better return).Other important contributions came from Bhalla (41) and Parkinson (37). Lucas Kennedy who effected the vital run out, had scored an unbeaten 58 which was his best at this level (a record that lasted just seven days as next week's report will clarify) assisted by Charles Gallagher's 60 as they added 97 for the 6th wicket. Parkinson with three wickets.
That draw allowed Colwyn Bay to close the gap at the top to the table to just a single point as they were also involved in a close run affair. Tom Roberts, having reached 3000 play cricket recorded runs last week, scored 59, together with Hudson's 45 to set a target of 179. Champion's Wallasey's response suffered setbacks as Bark and both Williams were dismissed at crucial stages after reaching 30. Sutton with a late order 24 came within sight of the target but Arthur Jones with 5 for 62 and three wickets for Davies saw the Welshman home by 9 runs.
Another close finish was at Southport as the home side claimed the final Liverpool wicket with just a dozen needed for victory. Liverpool's reply was built around fifties for Vivek Kothari (56) and Tushar Jashnani (53) but a lower collapse saw them go from 165 for 5 to 189 all out with Hennessy taking 4 for 40 including Kothari's vital wicket. Alex Halsall, with his best score since 2014, had top scored for the hosts and Sam Holliday with a second successive fifty (59) helped reach 200. Sutcliffe taking all four wickets to fall. Lytham's Christopher Fox took his first “fiver” at this level with 5 for 36 as he controlled the middle order to restrict Orrell RT. Cheetham 48 and Hayes 32 the best for Orrell. Matthew Cartmel's 51 made inroads into the target before Higham and Norris added an unbeaten 44 after a mini collapse had raised Orrell's hopes.
Joshua Thompson of Ormskirk provided the season's best bowling performance so far with nine for 40 as he single handedly cleaned up the Sefton Park's innings with four bowled and one Leg Before. Northern claimed their first victory as Kian Thompson wrapped up the Birkenhead Park lower order with 5 for 36 after Park had seemed well set at 70 for one, but then lost their next nine wickets for 38. Langford with 37. The home side's innings relied on 43 from Banerjee and 42 from Wewalwala in passing 150.
In Division One, Leigh maintained their winning start with a comfortable nine wicket victory over Rainford. Despite 40 from Brook and 28 from Tonge, no other home batter reached double figures as Dharmendra Pindolia claimed his best figures of six for 31. Bailey and Cleworth both passed 40 in passing the target. New Brighton matched Leigh with their third victory with an eight wicket win over Old Xaverians. Aussie Luke Terry took his total for the season to 190 runs for just one dismissal with a 78 not out. After a strong opening partnership between Rose and Lyons had added 65, the old boys side failed to put together another partnership of 30 as the four New Brighton bowlers shared the wickets.
Phil Morgan top scored for Rainhill with 59, including being part of a crucial 39 run stand for the last wicket with Williamson, after opener Clarke's 35 as they overcame Michael Roberti's five for 36 to pass 150. Trinity lost wickets at regular intervals with Alokbandaralage adding 27 at number nine and Roberti with 26 the only two to pass 20. Main destroyer was James Clarke with his first five wicket haul as he finished with six for 37. Wigan beat Spring View in their local derby as David Wood scored an unbeaten 71 in their six wicket victory. Harry Jackman second successive five wicket return (five for 32) limited Spring View as Robinson with 27 was one of four players to reach double figures.
Both Wavertree and Fleetwood Hesketh are still looking to avoid defeat. In a game where both sides' innings followed a similar pattern, both Northop Hall and Wavertree had three players pass 20 with Williams 28 and home side Daulby's 28 the best in their respective knocks. Four wickets each from Carus McDonald and Evans Ford for their sides as Wavertree's reply was restricted to 110 as they chased Northop Hall's score of 138. Bootle bounced back after two defeats as their bowlers shared wickets equally as they dismissed Fleetwood. Preston with 22 the best for the home side. Meskell then scored an unbeaten 49 to ensure victory.
Highfield continued to lead Division Two as they enjoyed an eight wicket victory over 9 man Prestatyn. Australian Lachlan Ballingal hit an unbeaten 57 and Brown 31 as they successfully chased down the the Welsh team's modest score of 133 which was built around Horton's 38 and 25 from Kaimal. Ainsdale recorded their second win from their two games as they welcomed Parkfield Liscard for their first appearance of the season after early selection issues. Parkfield's innings consumed 55 overs in reaching three figures with Finnegan's 25 their most productive. Four wickets for Norbury. Barlow and Tyms were both not out in their forties.
Maghull also enjoyed a comfortable victory after dismissing visitors Alder for 88. Sodhi with 28 no their best as they had little answer to counter James Stanley who ended up taking 5 for 28. Richard Brown then scored his second successive fifty (52 no) against this opposition. Caldy got the better of Norley Hall in something of a run fest for the division. Two players hit fifties, Harry Daniel Jones with 57, his best at this level, as did Alex English (50 no) his best since a similar score in the Covid affected mini leagues. Beddard with 45 and 32 from Tomkins also contributed. Chasing a large target, it needed more than Chris McLoughlins fine 83 which would earn him a return to his club's first XI the following week where he bettered that score. Drury with a run a ball 49 helped but the tail rather fell away as Olsen claimed 4 wickets.
The game between Sutton St Helens and Hightown St Marys ended in stalemate as Hightown batted 40 overs in defying the Sutton bowlers who were unable to take more than six wickets. Campbell with four of those after he had top scored with an unbeaten 28 on a day when runs were at a premium. Aaliyah Williams with her best return so far of 4 for 23 as she adapts to the English conditions.
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