CRICKET: Liverpool Competition – great wins for Northop Hall and Prestatyn 1sts, double slump for Bay
LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT COMPETITION – MAY 2
1ST XI FIRST DIVISION
Northop Hall 1st XI (20) 222-7 Sutton (St Helens) 1st XI (7) 220-10
A third-wicket stand of 135 between Matthew Jones and Christian Jardine and then a vital unbroken 38 at seven down involving James Southern and Carwyn Johnson carried Hall to a thrilling victory over Sutton at Smithy Lane.
Invited to bat, the visitors were all out for 220 off 56.1 overs, Johnson grabbing 5-89, Paul Jenkins 3-82 and James Hurlin 2-37. Skipper Joseph Noctor hit 108 for the visitors.
In reply, Hall were 20-2 before Jones (72) and Aussie addition Jardine (64) lifted the total to 155.
The hosts then dipped to 184-7 before Southern (22 no) and Johnson (16 no) led the North Wales side to a winning 222-7 off 51.1 and a three-wicket, 20-7 points triumph.
New Brighton 1st XI (25) 105-8 Colwyn Bay 1st XI (5) 104-10
After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Colwyn Bay could only produce a disappointing 104 all out at Rake Lane.
Tom Roberts top-scored with 34, while Damitha Silva took 4-24 for the hosts.
New Brighton found batting no easier and collapsed to 51-7 and 74-8, but from there Silva (43 no) and Tom Horrocks managed to guide the home team to 105-8 and a narrow victory.
Jack Parry collected an excellent 5-42 for the Bay, but the North Walians suffered a second successive loss on their return to Division 1. Their early-season batting is a concern.
1ST XI SECOND DIVISION
Prestatyn 1st XI (20) 104-4 Fleetwood Hesketh 1st XI (3) 102-10
Skipper Adam Tidswell notched 5-29 and Ben Hughes 4-26 to put Prestatyn in a winning position they never let slip.
Winning the toss and opting to field, the hosts rolled the away side over for 104, Tidswell and Hughes doing the chief damage.
Prestatyn fell to 37-3 in response, but recovered to reach 104-4 off 38.5, Will Owen concocting a vital knock of 46 not out.
2ND XI PREMIER DIVISION
Colwyn Bay 2nd XI (5) 112-10 Formby 2nd XI (25) 218-6 dec
Visitors Formby seconds set a formidable 218-6 declared off 45, Tom Clarke 3-62 for Bay, who were then blasted out for just 112, Jaiveer Tomar 46, Ethan Mills 5-12 and Lucas Houghton 4-29 for the Merseysiders.
2ND XI DIVISION TWO
Prescot & Odyssey 2nd XI (25) 228-5 dec Prestatyn 2nd XI (4) 100-10
Harry Nation (91) and Adam Critchley (75) did most to help hosts Prescot to 228-5, Ashley Jones bagging 2-33 for Prestatyn seconds, who were dismissed for just 100, skipper Jones 32 not out.
Sutton (St Helens) 2nd XI (25) 94-7 Northop Hall 2nd XI (4) 91-10
Michael Williamson did best with 30 as Northop Hall seconds were all back in the hutch for a paltry 91, Liam Dodd 6-32 for Sutton, who struggled to 94-7 in reply to record a three-wicket win, Matthew Edwards 2-15 and Robbie Edwards 2-26 for the Flintshire visitors.