Sri Lanka Test bowler Lasith Embuldeniya destroyed Northop Hall’s batting with a seven-wicket haul in an extremely close contest at Birkenhead.
It was agony for Hall as they came within one wicket of victory, but ended up defeated and lost top spot in the First Division.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Hall could only put together a vulnerable-looking total of 119 all out off 43 overs, Carwyn Johnson hitting five fours in his 29, while Matthew Jones registered 27, Embuldeniya finishing up with 7-53.
Embuldeniya is a top-class left-arm slow bowler with 71 Test wickets for Sri Lanka on his impressive CV.
Despite having a low total to defend, Hall were right in the contest throughout the Park innings, reducing the hosts to 75-6 at one stage.
When the home side lost their ninth wicket they still needed seven for victory, but middle-order man Craig Reid (39 no) and David Nevin saw them to 123-9 off 55.4.
Paul Jenkins, who reached an LDCC record-breaking 1,300 wickets the previous weekend, bowled superbly, grabbing 6-46 off 28 overs, including bowling Embuldeniya for 16.
James Hurlin took 2-50, but Park won by a single wicket and 25-5 on points.
Bay had to settle for a losing draw at Croxteth Drive.
Deciding to bat, the away team innings featured a number of useful efforts but not the one substantial knock which could have made a difference.
Matt Russell (39) and Shashika Dulshan (37) put on 55 for the seventh wicket, number four bat Dan Russell contributing 31.
Sefton Park’s reply ended on 201-6 off 46, skipper Paul Horton the match-best score of 52, Dulshan 3-43 and Charlie Collins 2-30 for the North Wales side.
It was a day of close calls for our top North Wales sides in the Liverpool Comp, but like Colwyn Bay and Northop Hall, Prestatyn were not quite able to claim a victory.
After inserting the hosts, the visitors dismissed Old Xavs for 153, skipper Josh Dilworth a crucial 49, while Benjamin Hughes snapped up 4-44, Kieran New 3-44 and Adam Tidswell 2-22 off 11.5 for the Welsh team.
In reply, Prestatyn finished up just short on 140 all out, having crashed to 38-5 early on.
Gareth Leonard (47) and Daniel Williams (35) did their best to turn the tide, but it was not to be
Leonard and Benjamin Hughes (27) put together a 57 stand for the seventh wicket, but the home bowlers did just enough, Colin Gibson pouching 4-29.
Next-to-bottom side Bay seconds suffered a seventh defeat in eight games.
Opener Chris Bellis finished 105 not out as visitors Sefton posted a strong total of 245-5 declared off 45, Josh Grant 3-65 and Jaiveer Tomar 2-60 for the hosts.
Despite a fine 58 from skipper Sam Roberts – 12 fours – in reply, the Bay were all back in the pavilion for 165, Ronan Brady 3-38 for Park.
Opener Adam Littler (90 not out), Thomas Doggett (71) and Owen Skillander (61) combined to ensure Northop hall seconds racked up a massive 250-3 declared off just 35 overs at Smithy Lane.
Littler smashed 13 fours and a six, Doggett 14 boundaries and Skillander 11.
There was a stand of 112 between Littler and Skillander for the second wicket, while Littler and Doggett put on 134 for the third.
Hall seconds then blew away Whitefield for just 65, Mattero Evans-Ford 3-28, Oliver Jenkins 2-1, Ben Hicks 2-13 and Liam Evans-Ford 2-21. Points: 25-1.
Prestatyn seconds claimed a magnificent first win of the season – and what a victory it was over second-place Hightown at Beach Close.
The hosts put the St Mary’s into bat and limited them to 178-8 off 47 overs, Dylan Jones 51 not out.
Sulaiman Ahmed scooped 3-36, Steven Edwards 2-11 and Ben Williams 2-43 for the home team.
Prestatyn seconds then batted brilliantly to reach a winning 179-7 off 33.5, Faiz Shah 53 not out, Ben Williams (36) and Sion Jones (28) all playing vital roles.
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