CRICKET: Jenkins stars again as Northop Hall rise to second, Bay lose agonisingly, Prestatyn end losing run

LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT CRICKET COMPETITION REPORTS – SATURDAY, JULY 12

1ST XI SECOND DIVISION

Northop Hall 1st XI (25) 235-4 dec Norley Hall 1st XI (3) 122-10

Left-arm spin master Paul Jenkins passed 50 league wickets with his fifth five-for of the season as Northop Hall thrashed their visitors to edge up to second in Division Two.

After the hosts had set a mighty 235-4 declared, Jenkins then led a demolition job on the Norley Hall batting with six wickets to seal a 113-run victory for the Flintshire men.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, openers Jac Kennedy (61) and Andrew Watkin (42) made a fine start with a stand of 99.

The hosts were 182-4 before skipper Ben Slater (55 not out) and James Hurlin (24 no) put on an unbroken 53 for the fifth wicket before the declaration came.

In reply, Norley Hall dipped from 68-2 to 122 all out, Jenkins proving almost unplayable in a 26-over spell which saw him scoop 6-34 and move up to 52 Second Division wickets for 2025.

Kennedy also delivered two run-outs for the overwhelming victors from Smithy Lane.

Prestatyn 1st XI (8) 165-6 Whitefield (Roby) 1st XI (7) 194-10 – match drawn

Better fortunes for Prestatyn as they ended a run of 10 straight league defeats by earning a winning draw at home to Whitefield.

The visitors won the toss and opted to bat, setting a total of 194 all out, opener Amruth Devaraj their star man with 79.

For the hosts, Benjamin Hughes scooped 3-47, skipper Adam Tidswell 3-55 off 23 overs, Jack Cheetham 2-18 and Navneet Kaimal 2-58.

Prestatyn’s response ended on 165-6, openers Andy Taylor (50) and Keiron Tidswell (41) putting on 59 before good middle-order efforts from Hughes (30) and Jason Edwards (27 not out) secured the draw.

1ST XI ECB PREMIER LEAGUE

Wallasey 1st XI (25) 263-4 dec Colwyn Bay 1st XI (7) 255-10

For the third successive Saturday, Bay ended up close to victory only to fail to pass the winning post.

On the first two occasions, the North Wales side had to settle for a draw, while today the outcome was a narrow loss.

Chasing a massive target of 264 at Wallasey, the visitors batted superbly at times, but lost their final wicket with 255 on the board.

One big plus was an impressive debut for new signing Sagar Trivedi, who joined from fellow Premier club Bootle during the week.

The Wirralians chose to bat and amassed 263-4 declared off 54.2, Connor Windell hitting 77, skipper Greg Beaver 62, former Northop Hall star Evan Withe 45 and Seb Botes 40 not out.

Trivedi bowled a tidy nine-over spell, grabbing 1-23, while Dulanjala Mendis claimed two victims, but came in for some hammer, conceding 78 off his 14 overs.

Bay launched a positive response, Trivedi making 74 off 41 balls, smashing seven sixes and four fours, opener Zack Gidlow made 56, Charlie Collins 38 and Matt Russell 30 not out.

The away side were well placed on 215-4 before wickets tumbled, Trivedi seventh out.

The innings ended on 255, Ejaaz Alavi an expensive but impactive 5-103 off 15 for the home team.

2ND XI FIRST DIVISION

Bootle 2nd XI (25) 222-5 Northop Hall 2nd XI (7) 220-9 dec

A good batting effort from Hall seconds at Wadham Road was not enough to bring them victory.

The Flintshire visitors won the toss and batted, posting 220-9 declared off 45 overs, Gareth Fox 57, Liam Evans-Ford 41 not out and Hollie Sigsworth 35.

Tom Carr was out for 99 as the Liverpool side got home on 222-5 off just 30.5, Adam Jenkins 3-92 for the visitors.

Colwyn Bay 2nd XI (8) 205-9 Spring View 2nd XI (7) 159-7

Samuel Costley (55) and James Jones (37) led the way as Colwyn Bay seconds made 205-9 off 45 overs after choosing to bat, Lewis Bamber picking up 5-57 for visitors Spring View.

In reply, the away side ended on 159-7, James Jones 4-61 for the hosts, who marginally got the better of the draw by eight points to seven.