BURSCOUGH boosted their survival hopes with a crucial six-wicket win over fellow strugglers Ainsdale in the Liverpool Competition First Division.

Ben McCord (4-24) and Richard Powell (4-17) did the damage as Ainsdale were blown away for just 86 inside 39 overs.

Waqar Khan struck a defiant 54 but no-one else reached double figures.

Burscough reached their target in the 27th over with Lee Berrie unbeaten on 33.

Orrell RT closed the gap on leaders Wigan to 21 points courtesy of a two-wicket win over Sefton Park.

James Cain top scored with 44 but it was slow progress as Park were bowled out for 156 off 60.5 overs. Dominic Lawton (6-48) got the early breakthroughs and returned to polish off the tail.

In reply Richard Smith hit 48 but Orrell were in trouble at 90-6.

They finally edged home thanks to 22 not out from Andrew Mercer.

Sefton skipper Robbie Houghton bagged 3-53.

Wigan were left hanging on for a draw at home to Rainford, who posted 209 all out off 53.4 overs thanks to Chris Tonge (45) and Tom Meredith (69no).

Matthew Leah took 4-47 for the leaders.

Opener Andy Ford struck 68 in reply but received little support and Wigan were indebted to 27 not out from Gareth Bradley as they closed on 170-9 off 42 overs. Pravin Tambe maintained his excellent form with 5-50.

Rainhill are up to sixth after a six-wicket victory at home to St Helens.

Robert Supria (57) and Brad Lovell (57) put on 103 for the third wicket but from 117-2 Saints crashed to 146 all out. Mansoor Ahmed (4-45), Ryan Williams (3-19) and Mike Rotheram (3-19) starred with the ball.

Rainhill needed 45.4 overs to knock off the runs with Conor Morris hitting 46 and Ahmed unbeaten on 37.

Bottom club St Helens Recs handed themselves a lifeline with a 49-run victory at Skelmersdale.

After being put into bat, Recs could only muster 132 with Stuart Lyon hitting 68. However, that proved more than enough with Luke Swards (4-38) and John Dillon (4-38) helping to dismiss Skem for 83.

Liverpool clung on to thwart Maghull’s hopes of victory at Aigburth.

Shane Townsend top scored with 45 as Maghull were bowled out for 179 off 55.4 overs. There were three wickets apiece for Iain Handley and Christian Edwards.

Opener Ashley McDonald hit 40 but from 45-0 wickets tumbled and Liverpool finished on 106-9 off 32 overs. Liam Crilly’s burst of 3-11 was in vain.

There was also stalemate in Highfield’s clash at Leigh. Karl Brown struck 104 to help Leigh to 251-9 declared off 53.3 overs and Highfield responded with 174-6 off 38 overs.