Sixteen-year-old Evan Withe inspires Northop Hall to first win at Colwyn Bay’s expense

LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT CRICKET COMPETITION REPORTS – JUNE 4

1ST XI FIRST DIVISION

Northop Hall (20) 174-10 Colwyn Bay (8) 160-10

Sixteen-year-old wonder bat Evan Withe scored a senior first team career best 92 not out which inspired Northop Hall to their first league win of the season.

And it was not just any old opponent they got off the mark against at the seventh attempt – high-flying North Wales rivals Colwyn Bay were conquered at Smithy Lane.

Previously without a win and bottom of the Liverpool Competition 1st XI First Division, the Hall badly needed a pick-me-up.

Put into bat, the home side slumped to 31-3 before opener Withe and skipper Will Higginson added 70 for the fourth wicket only for the latter to perish for 41.

Wickets then fell steadily as the Bay’s veteran spinner Paul Jenkins wreaked havoc, but Withe carried his bat, finishing 92 not out off 169 balls (11 fours) as the Hall were bowled out for 174 in 60.5 overs.

Wicket-keeper Withe had already made 87 for the firsts in the league this term against Fleetwood Hesketh, but this was his finest effort yet.

For the visitors, Jenkins scooped 5-40 off 18.5 overs, Patrick Glover 3-29 and Adam Campion 2-53.

Based on their good early season form, the Bay would have been quite confident of making the 175 required for victory.

However, when the dangerous Will Evans was bowled for a single by Carwyn Johnson, it was not the start the Penrhyn Avenue side would have wanted.

Colwyn progressed to 45-1 before the Hall’s Sri Lankan debutant Dhanosh Kaludewa made his presence felt.

Kaludewa, 15-year-old spin sensation Joshua Leach and Johnson all combined to send the visitors crashing to 160 all out.

Campion (34) and Matt Russell (32) produced some resistance, but Kaludewa took 5-56 off 20.1. Johnson 3-44 and Leach a superb 2-24 from 10 to seal a 14-run success.

The victory lifted Northop Hall off the bottom of the table.

1ST XI SECOND DIVISION

Prestatyn v Parkfield Liscard

Match awarded to Prestatyn (25 pts) as Parkfield Liscard (-10 pts) failed to raise a team.

2ND XI PREMIER DIVISION

Colwyn Bay 2nd XI (25) 188-10 Liverpool 2nd XI (6) 94-10

A fine all-round performance from the Bay seconds brought them success at Penrhyn Avenue.

Put into bat, the hosts were all out for 188, Ed Williams-Gray hitting 41, Arthur Jones 40 and Sam Roberts 36.

James Jones snapped up 4-18 off eight, Jamie Moorhouse 3-19 from 10 and Shaun Davies 2-35 as Liverpool were rolled over for 94.

2ND XI FIRST DIVISION

Rainford 2nd XI (25) 88-1 Northop Hall 2nd XI (1) 87-10

Opener Adam Littler was top contributor with 33 as Northop Hall seconds could only muster 87 all out after choosing to bat, Mark Williams 5-18 for the hosts.

Rainford eased to 88-1 in 17.5 overs for a nine-wicket, 25 points to 1 triumph, opener Matthew Noble 56 not out.