2nd XI Roundup Week 21

Date: 17th September 2021

Joy for Colwyn Bay but Firwood Bootle, New Brighton and Ainsdale drop down

2^nd XI Round Up Week 21 11 September 2021

The focus of the weekend’s Premier Division action turned to the relegation battle, with the bottom seven still mathematically not having secured their safety as the weekend started. New Brighton’s attempt to win and retain their slim chance of avoiding the drop ended with the scores level with Alex Watkins being run out of the last ball, attempting the single that would have won the game. He ended on 57 helped by Gamage’s 33 in their attempts to over haul Formby’s score built around 37 from both Simpson and Powell. Powell and New Brightons’ Evans both collected 4 wickets.

Firwood Bootle’s defeat at Southport & Birkdale, condemned them to a second relegation in three seasons (*excluding 2020) in a high scoring affair at the County Ground which featured centuries from both sides. Mark Fletcher’s unbeaten 106 (included his 5000 play cricket runs) after Stanley with 33 were the main contributions in the winning total. Billy Smith took two wickets which leaves him on 799 play cricket wickets ahead of the final weekend. Bootle had Callum McGee’s 109 which took him past 500 league runs for the season, together in a large partnership with Shaun Hornby 61, which enables them to post 217. S&B and Formby then played their outstanding game on Sunday with Tom Simpson 85, aided by Evans 49 not out as they reached 211. Charlie Carney scored 60, nearly doubling his season’s total for Southport in a defeat which saw Formby move into second place.

Although on the wrong end of a defeat, Sefton Park’s Under 13 player Tom Spilsbury claimed a hattrick against Lytham (following up his remarkable four wickets in four balls and five wickets in an over performance for the League Representative side earlier in the month). However, Sefton Park earlier found themselves at 31 for 7 thanks to an opening blitz from Jack Saunders who took 6 for 20 to add to his 7 wicket haul last month. Morris with 47 to add some respectability. Openers Norris 46 and Myles Child, unbeaten on 67, had put together a 115 opening stand before Spilsbury’s late cameo.

Northern’s win at Liverpool on Sunday saw them move into third place. Biley Banerjee followed up last week’s 90 with 73 and there were runs from Biddlestone, Wewalwala and Tweedle who all passed 30. Peter Tod tried almost single handedly to thwart the Crosby side with 59 and five for 65. Garikipati with 39 and Crossley passing 30. Newton le Willows had a comfortable nine wicket defeat of Ormskirk led by Joel Murnan’s 6 for 33 (his second successive six wicket return). Nathan Hughes hit an undefeated 72.

Division One-Congratulations to Colwyn Bay whose quick fire demolition of Rainford ensured their promotion to the Premier division. Rainford, fresh from their Tittershill Cup triumph quickly fell to earth as James Jones passed 500 play cricket wickets as he claimed the remarkable figures of six for four runs with Clarke taking four for 12 in a game over inside 21 overs.

Playing their last game of the season, Birkenhead Park ended with a victory over Rainhill. Dan Jordan’s 76 was his fifth half century of the season, and Evans added 42 before retiring as Park declared on 200. Oliver Powell top scored for Rainhill with 46 but with seven other players scoring double figures without reaching 20, he lacked support. George Turner with his season best of 5 for 53 and Evans with 4 for 65 in a 25 run win. Park now watch out for Colwyn Bay’s result on Saturday to see which of the two will be declared champions. Colwyn Bay travel to Spring View with both sides needing a win.

Spring View enhanced their hopes of staying in the division with a three wicket win over Ainsdale in the relegation “six pointer” (as it would be called in football). After Andrew Bowes had taken 5 for 38 with Friar’s 42 and Lucas 34 the main resistance to him, Bamber and Hill steadied the ship with 30s after a flurry of early wickets had given Ainsdale hope. The defeat confirmed that Ainsdale will be playing in Division Two next season. Highfield’s defeat to Old Xaverian’s leaves them needing a victory in the final day with results elsewhere needing to go their way. Ian Formby with 63 from number nine, had doubled the old boys total from 80 for 7. Bowers with 31 as Wallace claimed four for 51. After Brewer was out for 44, only Darbyshire with 28 added much.

Wavertree were another side to record a quickfire victory, as Bharat Grover took seven Wigan wickets for 23 as they were dismissed cheaply in an eight wicket defeat. Jack Hayes with 72, recording his twentieth fifty, was the standout performance in the draw between Leigh and Northop Hall.

Only two games played in Division Two. Fleetwood Hesketh, still battling for the top of the table spot, had a comfortable victory over Alder, thanks to Irshad Desai’s 95, aided by 41 from Pennington and Desai was also among the wickets as the bowlers shared the wickets. St Helens Town’s James Ellis with his first century 111, out of the 156 required to over haul Hightown St Mary’s target. Under 13 Jairam Ramaiah with his maiden senior half century (50 not out).

Southport Trinity retained their small two point advantage at the top when Prestatyn conceded as did Parkfield Liscard and Sutton’s game was a covid cancellation.