CRICKET: Liverpool Competition – Magician Mendis takes Bay best, great Prestatyn win
LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT CRICKET COMPETITION REPORTS – SATURDAY, AUGUST 17
1ST XI FIRST DIVISION
Old Xaverians (5) 51-10 Colwyn Bay (24) 202-10
Dulanjala Mendis returned season’s best figures of 7-18 as Colwyn Bay dished out a thrashing which kept them well on course for promotion back to the Premier.
The Sri Lankan left-arm spinner claimed his ninth five-wicket haul in the league this season at St Francis Xaviers School and moved up to 68 First Division victims in total at 8.69 apiece.
The 34-year-old recorded his fourth seven-wicket return of 2024. Bay have now established a 33-point gap in second place and sit 24 in arrears of leaders Bootle.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Bay posted 202 all out, opener Zack Gidlow top-scoring with 65, Will Higginson 44 and Sion Morris 38, Daniel Harrison taking 5-46 for the hosts.
With Mendis wreaking havoc, his 7-18 coming off 13 overs, and fellow spinner Paul Jenkins grabbing 2-1, Old Xavs were all out for just 51.
DULANJALA MENDIS – NINE FIVE-WICKET LEAGUE HAULS 2024
Aug 17: Old Xaverians (a) 7-18
May 25: Liverpool (a) 7-42
Jul 27: Highfield (h) 7-53
Jun 1:: Lytham (h) 7-65
Aug 10: Sefton Park (h) 6-56
Jul 20: Fleetwood Hesketh (a) 5-16
Jun 27: Maghull (a) 5-52
Jun 15: Old Xaverians (h) 5-38
Jun 8: Sefton Park (a) 5-67
LEAGUE RECORD
Played 14
Wickets 68
Average 8.69
Economy 2.05
Best: 7-18
1ST XI SECOND DIVISION
Northop Hall (8) 167-10 Sutton St Helens (23) 171-10
James Hurlin’s magnificent spell of 7-46 for Northop Hall went unrewarded as his team lost by just four runs at Smithy Lane.
Hurlin achieved career best figures on Saturday and passed 400 wickets in club cricket.
Nathan Roett also snapped up 2-69 as Sutton, who chose to bat, were bowled out for 171.
Matthew Jones made 44 and Thomas Doggett 37 not out, but the Hall slumped to 110-8 in reply and looked all but beaten.
However, they recovered to be 167-9 when the final wicket fell.
Points: 23-8 to Sutton.
Prestatyn (22) 152-10 Whitefield (6) 117-10
Batting heroes Benjamin Hughes (51 not out) and Gareth Leonard (45) helped Prestatyn register a very welcome winning total at Beach Close.
Choosing to bat after a correct coin call, the hosts were all out for 152, Shah Afridi 5-38 for the visitors.
In the bowling, Adam Tidswell took centre stage as he bagged 5-51 off 17.4 overs, Whitefield collapsing to 117 all out.
Jaden Ablett pocketed 2-21 and Hughes 2-23 in a fine 22-6 win.
The result lifted Prestatyn off the bottom, leapfrogging their beaten opponents.
2ND XI PREMIER DIVISION
Colwyn Bay 2nd XI (9) 177-9 dec Sefton Park (5) 118-9
Bay ended up within one wicket of victory at Penrhyn Bay.
Josh Brown (59), Harry Spillane (46) and Matt Russell (36) were the main contributors after the hosts set 177-9 declared, having been put in.
Sefton clung on at 118-9, Matt Russell 5-27, James Jones 2-10 and Tom Clarke 2-28.
2ND XI SECOND DIVISION
Alder 2nd XI (4) 107-9 Northop Hall 2nd XI (25) 180-4 dec
Jack Smallwood (45), Renit Adke (44 no), Nish Adke (33) and Jack Allen (29) all made useful scores as Hall seconds set 180-4 declared off 40 overs.
Alder, whose 11th man did not bat, were then dismissed for 107, Matthew Edwards a stunning 6-6 off 11 overs, Renit Adke 2-34 to seal the visitors a 25-4 points success.
Sutton 2nd XI (25) 101-2 Prestatyn 2nd XI (2) 97-10
Heavy defeat for Prestatyn seconds at The New Street Oval.
Ashley Jones did best with 29 as the visitors were bowled out for 97 after winning the toss and opting to bat.
Sutton then eased to 101-2 for an eight-wicket decision, Liam Dodd 66 no, Jones 2-33 for the Welsh side.