2nd XI Division Two April Round Up - (Week 3 updated)
Date: 23rd April 2023
Firwood Bootle move in top spot
2nd XI Division Two Round up – Week 3 (29 April 2023)
St Helens Town's Ian Knowles recorded his second successive league century in their victory over Fleetwood Hesketh. The two came 728 days apart as his previous league game was on 1 May 2021, when he scored 126. His unbeaten 103 enabled his side to approach 200 before declaring with Ratcliffe adding 43. Murphy and Shukla both scored 30s but the rest of the side struggled against Callum Hewitt who finished with 5 for 35 (his first since 2019). Best bowling of the day came from Josh Garside of Maghull who rescued his side after Alder had dismissed them for under 100. Josh's 7 for 11 was his best ever return and enable his side secure a 47 run victory despite Steve Harrison taking 5 for 47 (his 20th such occurrence).
Firwood Bootle took top spot with a comfortable victory over Caldy. After apparently choosing to bat, only Tomkins with 30 passed 14 for the visitors. Three wickets each for Jones and Hunt. Matty Tamburro's second successive six wicket haul (for 57) was the difference as Hightown St Marys saw off Parkfield Liscard challenge. His victims included Nuwan Chathuvanga whose 77 was his third successive mention in these round ups. The next best batter was Dewage with 29 with Hogson chipping in with three wickets. Hightown's total featured six players reaching double figures with Matty Tamburro the best with 30.
Newman was Irby's most successful bowler with four for 0 runs conceded as Sutton's lower order failed to contribute much to add to opener Kelly's 39. Alex Renshaw claiming three. Harry Wilkes (34 no) and Newman then eased Irby to victory after losing two early wickets. Norley's bowling trio of Hollinrake, Naseri and Burrows each claimed three Prestatyn wickets despite Cheetham's 43 and Horton's 35 which matched the rest of the team's contribution. Burrows then donned his pads as he scored 48 together with opening partner Martlew (35) that broke the back of the chase.
2nd XI Division Two Round up – Week 2 (22 April 2023)
Parkfield Liscard recorded a second successive win again dismissing their opponents fairly cheaply. An opening stand of 71 between Bradley 46 and White 40 laid the foundations to their total of 168 with Chathuvanga adding 44. Regan four wickets before Chathuvanga continued from last week with another six wickets for 33 (already equalling his best ever season for wickets and we are only in week 2) as Fleetwood Hesketh had two batters reach double figures in Regan 35 and overseas Chandler Evans 27. Norley Hall's Alex Martlew was their star performer with his best ever score of 58 in their four wicket victory over Firwood Bootle. Captain Jack Cliff with 29 was one of three Bootle players to pass 20 as they struggled against Wood, who took 4 for 32, and Burrows (three wickets).
Maghull won a close encounter by 14 runs against Prestatyn. Maghull's modest total of 118 was led by Bean 40 and Byrne 30 as Steven Edwards recorded his best figures of 6 for 31. Five Welshmen reached double figures but with 17 (Edwards again) being their best they fell short with Byrne leading the bowling honours with 4 for 25. Sutton's rearguard held on for a draw again in another low scoring affair. Chasing Hightown's 133 of which Dodd's 45 was the only player to pass 11 although extras was equal top scorer, Sutton lost eight wickets with Matty Tamburro taking six for 39. The two other fixtures were previously re-arranged due to ground issues.
2nd XI Division Two Round up – Week 1 (15 April 2023)
Caldy started the season in fine style running up 200 before declaring with what was a winning total against Hightown St Marys who are fast becoming Craig Findlay's favourite opponents. After scoring his first ever century against them in August last year, he added another, again unbeaten 100 with Pilley adding 40 not out. Hightown had a near perfect “diminishing” scorecard as each batter failed to better the score of the predecessor (with the exception of number 7 Trapnell). Obviously on the basis of this, opener Tamburro top scored with 23. Wickets shared with Redfearn taking three.
Low scores are expected in the early days of the season as rustiness in the batting department needs ironing out. Alder were dismissed for 42 with Nuwan Chathuvanga taking a career best of 8 for 17 with five clean bowled and two lbws for good measure. Parkfield Liscard easing to an eight wicket win. Prestatyn fared a little better, in reaching 45 with Firwood Bootle's Andrew Hunt claiming 5 for 9 (his best since 2019) and Hannah Gallimore taking 4 wickets showing as she appears to, a liking to facing sides from North Wales as her three best returns (4 wickets each time) came against them including Northop Hall twice. Bootle winning by the same margin.
League newcomers Irby held on for a draw at home to Norley Hall. In a low scoring affair, Norley took 50 overs to reach 128 before declaring with Colin Parrott registering his 49th occurrence of a fifty (plus two centuries) in scoring 51. Three wickets for Newman. In response, Irby also found runs hard to come by amassing 87 off 46 overs led by 24 not out from Bennett. Some good old fashioned Boycott scoring efforts spoilt somewhat by young Renshaw's 4 with a scoring rate of 100. Rather more runs on view as Maghull declared on 195 with three batters with half centuries. Both openers, Jon Hennessy and Josh Byrne were dismissed for exactly 50 before Richard Brown top scored with 64. In reply St Helens had their own Luke Ratcliffe whose unbeaten 54 was his maiden half century in 20 years involvement. Moscrop with 46 close to what would have been only his third fifty in 10 years playing. Four wickets for Garside as the game ended in stalemate.
The game at Fleetwood Hesketh were called off due the ground conditions.
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