CRICKET: Liverpool and District Competition previews and fixtures – Saturday, April 26

Three exciting new debutants will take their bow when Colwyn Bay begin their 2025 league campaign on Saturday.

Tahir Iqbal, Sam Costley and Zane Roy are all in line to feature in the Bay’s opening tests.

Iqbal joins the Bay from Preston and goes straight into the 1st XI for their first game back in the ECB 1st XI Premier League at Formby.

All-rounder Iqbal scored 403 runs and took 26 wickets for Preston in the Northern Cricket League Palace Shield Premier Division in 2024.

Great news for Bay is the return of Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Dulanjala Mendis for a second season as the club’s overseas professional.

Mendis took 87 league wickets last year as the Bay landed the First Division title.

Costley is from Western Australia and landed in the UK this week ready for action as the 2nd XI’s overseas player this summer. He is in the seconds’ squad to face Wavertree 2nd XI at Penrhyn Avenue. Also in the 2nd XI is newcomer Roy.

Last weekend’s action…..

COLWYN BAY 1ST XI began their season last weekend with a narrow defeat at Rainhill in the Ray Digman Trophy.

Matt Russell made 63 and Sion Morris 36 as the Welsh side set 194-7 off 45 overs, but Rainhill got home on 197-7 with two balls to spare, Russell 2-22.

Bay 2nd XI lost by 10 wickets at home to Ormskirk 2nd XI in the Chester Cup.

Shay Williams made a battling 41 as Bay were bowled out for 131 and the visitors breezed to 132-0 in just 17.1 overs.

NORTHOP HALL start off their Second Division campaign at home to Ainsdale on Saturday.

Some quality new signings at Smithy Lane include prolific spin bowler Paul Jenkins, Jac Kennedy, Owen Skillander and Carwyn Johnson.

Last weekend, Hall firsts and seconds were both beaten in their respective knockout competitions.

In the Ray Tyler Cup, Northop Hall 1st XI were bowled out for 104, Andrew Watkin 41 and Finley Jenkins 35, while hosts Prescot and Odyssey made it to 107-7, Watkin 4-24 off nine.

In the Tittershill Cup, Hall seconds were dismissed for 145, Gareth Fox 32, and away side Maghull 2nd XI eased to 146-1.

PRESTATYN will target a big improvement on last season when their 1st XI finished bottom of Division Two.

They begin with a home clash against Fleetwood Hesketh on Saturday.

In last weekend’s Ray Tyler Cup preliminary round meeting with Maghull 1st XI, the Liverpool side set a formidable 302-8, Jack Cheetham 3-74 and the hosts were sent packing for 141, Andy Taylor top-scoring with 48.

FIXTURES

LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT CRICKET COMPETITION FIXTURES – SATURDAY, APRIL 26

1ST XI ECB PREMIER LEAGUE (12 noon)
Formby v Colwyn Bay

1ST XI SECOND DIVISION (12 noon)
Northop Hall v Ainsdale
Prestatyn v Fleetwood Hesketh

2ND XI FIRST DIVISION (12.45 pm)
Ainsdale 2nd XI v Northop Hall 2nd XI
Colwyn Bay 2nd XI v Wavertree 2nd XI

2ND XI SECOND DIVISION (12.45 pm)
Whitefield (Roby) 2nd XI v Prestatyn 2nd XI