Second XI Division Two's May 2023 round up (including week 5 details)
Date: 12th May 2023
2nd XI Division Two Round up – Week 5 (13 May 2023)
Maghull's bowlers dismissed league new comers Irby relatively cheaply as they moved clear at the top of division. Four wickets for Byrne and three for Gibbons as Newman (25) was the sole batter to offer some resistance. Byrne then added a quickfire 30 in the eight wicket victory. Firwood Bootle bowlers struggled against St Helens' top order who all made significant contributions led by 85 from James Ellis and an unbeaten 48 from Brownbill as they passed 220. Facing a large total, Bootle's batters couldn't respond in a similar fashion as only Meskell (34) at the top of the order reached double digits as Gregson with 4 for 46 and three wickets for Brownbill completed a comfortable victory for the St Helens club.
Batting honours went to Sutton's Thomas Nolan whose 132 was a career best and the best in the division so far this campaign in a run fest at Caldy supported by Gary Greener who was dismissed for 62. Safety was the name of the day as Craig Findlay batted throughout the reply for an unbeaten 52 as Caldy ended five down and someway behind in a stalemate. Bowlers on top in Alder's victory at Sandy Lane as Hightown St Marys were dismissed for under three figures. A good day for Ryan with three wickets and then a decisive unbeaten 34 as Alder recorded a 5 wicket win.
Haroon Naseri's maiden 50 (out shortly after reaching this milestone) laid the foundation for Norley Hall's comfortable victory over Parkfield Liscard. Burrows and Wood added 30s for the victors despite Reid's 4 wicket haul. Three Parkfield batters got starts without progressing with White's 31 the best but Burrows three wickets the best in a good bowling display. Prestatyn were awarded the game when Fleetwood Hesketh were unable to raise a side to travel.
2nd XI Division Two Round up – Week 4 (6 May 2023)
Josh Byrne with four Fleetwood Hesketh wickets and Brown with 40 were the leading performers in Maghull's victory that enabled their side to move level on top with Firwood Bootle. Five other Maghull batters passed 20 on their way to 189. Shukla responding with four wickets of his own, leaving him just shy of 800 play cricket wickets. Only Regan with 32 and Chandler Evans managed double figures for a Fleetwood side that that was short of numbers and runs. Firwood Bootle's attempt to overhaul Sutton's first innings total was rescued by Adderley with an unbeaten 35 as he and Evans (18 no) added an unbroken partnership of 52 for the eighth wicket after Faulkner's three wickets had left Bootle wobbling at 65 for six. Dodd with 34 and Heyes's 22 were the main contributors to Sutton's score.
A solid patting performance from Parkfield, with the top six all reaching double figures, led by 24 from Dewage enable them to take the points with a five wicket victory over Irby whose number 10 batter (Jones) was their own top scorer with 22. Three wickets each for Reid and Dewage. Chinneck (22) and O'Rourke with 32, laid the foundations from the top of the order for Alder who reached 141 despite Prestatyn's Steven Edwards, going one better than his six wicket haul a fortnight ago, claiming another best return of 7 for 21 as he collected his 200th wicket (as per play cricket stats). Frustratingly in reply, the Welshmen lost regular wickets as Harrison with 4 for 23 and Jones with three wickets, earned the home side a 59 run winning margin.
There was a similar margin of victory for Caldy as Oliver Higgs dominated the Norley Hall with 87 in a rare appearance (just his third game in 22 months). Findlay chipped in with 29 to enable Caldy to reach 176. Paul Burrow's efforts in taking 5 for 69 was his best return since 2014 when he was at Orrell. Three Norley players led by 39 from Tabener and 36* from Burke gave them hope at 122 for 4 but Malpas introduction turned the game with his four for 11 (again a best set of figures for him in senior cricket).
Back to top
