FIRWOOD BOOTLE'S bid to retain their Premier Division title suffered its second blow in a fortnight on Saturday when the Wadham Road side lost to Highfield by seven wickets at Billinge Road.
The former Worcestershire bowler Chris Liptrot offered spectators another seam bowling masterclass, taking 7-80 in 20 overs as David Snellgrove's men were restricted to 185 all out in 53.1 overs, John Salter making 47 and Matty Leah, 30.
Highfield openers Michael Farrell and James Taylor exposed the inadequacy of this total by sharing a stand of 142 to set their side on the way to what may come to be seen as a season-defining victory.
Taylor made 68 and Farrell finished with 104 not out off 115 balls as the Wigan side secured victory in 43 overs. Leah, with 2-55was the most successful Bootle bowler.
The result means that Bootle are now in third place in the Premier League table and Snellgrove's side now trail leaders Lytham by 33 points after the Fylde pacesetters beat Northop Hall by seven wickets at Church Road.
Fayaz Ughradar's 88 not out and Dom O'Brien's 76 helped Anthony Mulligan's men to overhaul the Welsh side's 202 all out with 4.4 overs to spare, but Lytham's bowlers had been made to sweat for 66 overs before Northop Hall were dismissed. Danny Nolan made 109 while Richard Openshaw and Marcus Sharp shared eight wickets equally between them.
But the most remarkable match in the Bridging Finance (NW) Liverpool Competition Premier Division took place at Rake Lane where New Brighton scored 194-9 declared against Hightown – and then skittled their visitors for 32 in just 45 minutes.
Sri Lankan seamer Chinthaka Perera wreaked havoc after tea, taking 7-18, including a hat-trick, in only seven overs. Martyn Evans, who had made 67 in New Brighton's innings, joined the fun with 3-12. Seven Hightown batsmen were bowled, four made ducks and the best individual score was six.
Ormskirk's challenge faltered at Colwyn Bay where Will Hantam was the architect of their six-wicket defeat. The South African seamer took 6-27 to dismiss Ian Robinson's team for 114. David Abraham offering late resistance with 35. Zak Gidlow's unbeaten 45 ensured that the Welsh side's pursuit suffered no panics, although Simon Kerrigan (3-25) included Lancashire teammate Gareth Cross in his haul. Cross had earlier bowled Kerrigan for two.
At Beach Close, Prestatyn's ninth-wicket pair, Rhys Jones and Richie Williams, added 40 to defy Wallasey's bowlers in a high-scoring draw. John Pugh (91) and Joel Huston (83) had provided the bedrock for the visitors' 257 all out in 52 overs, Marripuri Suresh taking 5-55.
Steve Giblin's 64 gave the bottom club's pursuit some momentum but Chris Bourne (4-85) and Kurt Roughley (3-72) checked the charge. Prestatyn took 10 points from the game, Wallasey collected nine.
Northern slow left-armer Michael Baer enjoyed himself at Crow Lane where his 5-19 helped Northern to dismiss Newton-le-Willows for 88 and record a 145-run victory. James Cole's side had posted 233-8 declared in 55 overs.
