FIRWOOD Bootle started where they left off in 2009 as they hammered Caldy by eight wickets in Group Six of the Bridging Finance (NW) Knockout Trophy.

Mark Sinclair starred with 4-20 to help restrict Caldy to 118 all out. Rich Battersby top scored for the visitors with 36 not out.

Bootle took just 20 overs to reach their target with skipper David Snellgrove hitting 61 not out.

The other game in the group saw Newton le Willows win by 77 runs at home to Skelmersdale.

Newton recovered from 53-6 to post 217 all out thanks to Andrew Long (76), David Evans (30) and Liam Horsfield (38no).

Jonas Smith claimed 4-34 for Skem who could only muster 140 in reply. Opener James Cutt hit 57 but received little support. Steven Appleton took 4-21 and Danny Barlow 3-25.

Liverpool’s campaign began badly with a 205-run thrashing at Leigh in Group Seven.

Paul Keenan hammered 133 off 118 balls, including nine sixes, as Leigh raced to a daunting 327-6. Adam Roussak then bagged 5-27 as Liverpool crumbled to 122 all out.

New Brighton were 107-run winners at home to Alder.

Lawrence Wilson (75) and Mark Hale (55) put on 132 for the seventh wicket as New Brighton went from 79-6 to 227-9. There were three wickets apiece for Lance Mulholland and Greg Coogan.

Mark Brick hit a quickfire 47 in reply but Alder were all out for 120 with Hale taking 4-56.

Sefton Park enjoyed a four-wicket victory at Formby in Group Eight.

David Baird (3-27) ripped out Formby’s top order and the hosts never recovered from being 16-4.

Andy Halpin (36) helped them total 153-9 but Sefton won with some 15 overs to spare as Paul Squires struck 46.

Moorfield went down by 130 runs at Colwyn Bay. Lancashire’s Gareth Cross struck a blistering 107 off 84 balls and put on 164 for the third wicket with Sion Morris (97) as Bay scored 305-5.

Cross then took 4-11 asMoorfield closed on 175-9.

Orrell Red Triangle and Wallasey made winning starts in Group Nine.