Liverpool Competition – Hall win at leaders, Bay draw and Prestatyn so unlucky not to claim first victory

LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT CRICKET COMPETITION – REPORTS JULY 19

ECB 1ST XI PREMIER DIVISION

Colwyn Bay 1st XI (8) 263-7 Formby 1st XI (8) 232-6 – match drawn

Will Higginson recorded the fifth century of his career as Bay produced another fine competitive performance but had to be content with a draw at Penrhyn Avenue.

Put into bat, Bay were wobbling on 75-5 and 119-6, but number seven bat Higginson turned the tide with 101 not out, which included 15 fours and three sixes, as the hosts went on to set a formidable 263-7 off 54.5 overs.

Sagar Trivedi had earlier made 55 before being fifth out, while Higginson put on 78 for the seventh wicket with Luke Russell (30) and an unbroken 66 with Matt Russell (22 no).

Formby’s reply ended on 232-6, Jack Carney 57 and Larry Edward 52, Trivedi claiming 3-68 for the home team.

1ST XI SECOND DIVISION

Ainsdale 1st XI (4) 151 Northop Hall 1st XI (25) 155-6

A great day for second-place Northop Hall as they won away at table-topping Ainsdale and cut the gap on the leaders to five points.

Winning the toss and choosing to bat, the hosts were bowled out for 151 off a mammoth 65.2 overs, Daniel Fitzpatruick 69, while for the visitors James Hurlin collected 5-52 off 24.2 and fellow spinner Paul Jenkins 5-70 from 33.

Hall reached the winning post on 155-6 off 44.2, skipper Ben Slater hitting 35, Finley Jenkins 34 not out and Carwyn Johnson 26 no, that pair putting on an unbroken 66 for the seventh wicket to win the match, while opener Andrew Watkin contributed 29.

Fleetwood Hesketh 1st XI (6) 155-9 Prestatyn 1st XI (9) 280-8 dec – match drawn

By far bottom side Prestatyn’s best performance of the season saw them come within a wicket of what would have been a tremendous victory at fourth-place Fleetwood.

Inserted by the hosts, the North Walians really got it together in the batting, amassing 280-8 declared off 53.4 overs.

Rohit Kaimal top-scored with a career best 86, Benjamin Hughes also made his highest score of 77, the pair forming a magnificent stand of 176 for the fourth wicket, while opener Kieron Tidswell made 42.

Hesketh were reduced to 102-7 in reply, but clung on for the draw at 155-9, Hughes 3-36 and Adam Tidswell 3-45 for the visitors, who got the better of the points 9-6.

2ND XI FIRST DIVISION

Northop Hall 2nd XI (3) 108-10 Ainsdale 2nd XI (25) 109-2

Visitors Ainsdale seconds cruised to an eight-wicket triumph at Smithy Lane.

Wavertree 2nd XI (20) 146-6 Colwyn Bay 2nd XI (6) 143-10

Bay’s slump in form continued as they lost by four wickets to a Wavertree side which leapfrogged them into second place.

The visitors were all out for 143 and the hosts got home on 146-6, James Jones 2-26 and Shay Williams 2-34 for the North Walians.

2ND XI SECOND DIVISION

Prestatyn 2nd XI (6) 202-8 Whitefield (Roby) 2nd XI (25) 203-3

Good total from Prestatyn seconds, but their visitors still managed to achieve a comfortable seven-wicket win at Beach Close.