Bootle maintain challenge to retain Premier crown

Aug 28 2007 by David Jones, Liverpool Daily Post

WILL PURSER put Hightown to the sword with a terrific nine-wicket haul as Firwood Bootle maintained their challenge for a second successive Liverpool Competition Premier League title.

Purser went on the rampage with a devastating 9-25 off 11.2 overs to dismiss the in-form home side, who had won four of their last five games, for just 60 in 22.2 overs, in reply to the champions’ 198-7 declared (41.4) after they had been invited to bat.

Ian Cockbain jun and Craig Prince both scored 52, while Andrew Symondson took 5-50 for the losers.

In a Bank Holiday programme that saw Ormskirk lose ground in a critical top-four match with Northern, there is no change at the top after New Brighton’s clinical victory against neighbours Wallasey.

The Rake Lane side chalked up 217 (50) after electing to bat, with Paul Hale (61, 10 fours) and Jesse Ryder (57, eight fours) the principal scorers. Hale shared a sixth-wicket stand of 68 with David While (15), while brother John added 33. Brian Beaver (5-85) and Chris Bourne (4-67) were the pick of the visitors’ attack.

Wallasey had a disastrous start, losing six wickets for 38, with only Richard Sutton (55 not out, two sixes, eight fours) offering any resistance. Ryder (4-25) and Ashraf Nawab (4-57) did most of the damage.

It was a similar story at Crosby, where Ormskirk, replying to Northern’s 196 (67 overs) after deciding to bat, made a poor start with 20-4. Suwanji Madanayake, last out on 93 (three sixes, eight fours) and Ian Glayzer (45, one six, three fours) made a fight of it with 110 for the fifth wicket, but the visitors were dismissed for 165 (45.5).

Carl Hey’s marvellous season had continued with a top score of 66 (seven fours) in the home knock and he finished it on a high note by taking 4-28. Martyn Farrell returned fine figures of 5-51 for the losers.

Lytham and Colwyn Bay’s title chances have receded in recent weeks but easy victories yesterday keep them interested.

Sion Morris cracked a superb 114 (three sixes, 13 fours) to set up the Welsh side for a comfortable win over relegation-threatened Huyton. He shared 93 for the fourth wicket with Huw Roberts (33) out of 223-7 declared (49.1) after having been inserted.

It proved far too many for the visitors, Dave Hutton (40) and skipper Mark Wilkie (35) the best of a reply which ended on 144. Skipper Paul Jenkins (4-25), Debasis Mohanty (3-51) and Patrick Leach (3-20) did the damage.

Simon Long (97) and Guy Roberts (72) shared a partnership of 110 for the second wicket in Lytham’s 251-6 declared (44) after winning the toss against St Helens Recs, for whom Kelby Pickering took 3-50. The visitors lost half their side for 48 and succumbed for 134 (Chris Lyon 40). Richard Openshaw took 4-10 and Jimmy Wisniewski 3-28.

Fleetwood Hesketh bounced back from their mauling by Ormskirk on Saturday to dispose of Southport & Birkdale by 79 runs.

Tommy Wareing (67) top scored after the home side won the toss and totalled 223 (57.1), with Pat Jackson taking 6-69. The Aussie was also top scorer with 43 in a response that fizzled to 144 (40.5). Mark Prince (3-19) and Nikita Miller (3-32) bowled well.

The battle at the bottom ended in a draw, although Maghull were frustrated by a last wicket Leigh stand of 62 that covered 27 overs. Sam Baldwin was their hero with an unbeaten 75 (15 fours) after the home side, 72-6 at one stage, scrambled to 169-9 off 61 overs. However, Leigh are relegated.

Earlier David Roots celebrated with an excellent 104 (one six, 17 fours) for Maghull. He shared an opening stand of 118 with Paddy McKeown (62, nine fours) and 108 for the second with Kiran Powar (54, two sixes, six fours) out of the visitors’ 235-3 declared (45) after electing to bat.