Cricket: Hadden milestone as Formby celebrate

Sep 10 2007 by David Jones, Liverpool Daily Post

DAVE HADDEN celebrated with his 1,000th run of the season as Formby deservedly clinched the Competition’s First Division title.

It is the club’s first major honour and their consistency has been a key factor. After Hadden (83, 1,067 runs) and Graeme Morris (36) shared 85, the leaders suffered a blip chasing Sefton Park’s 197, slumping to from 157-1 to 175-6 before securing a three-wicket win.

Earlier, skipper Steve Dutton (4-71) and Tony Rogan (4-47) restricted the visitors to 197 (51.1 overs), Chris Bellis scoring 53 and John Jackson 42.

Welsh clubs Northop Hall and Prestatyn are joint second in the race for the other promotion place.

Hall reached 220 against Highfield (Chris Liptrot 5-38, Todd Astle 5-60). But the visitors managed only 152.

Prestatyn’s Will Hantam and Will Owen took control at Wavertree. South African Hantam top scored with 100 (four sixes, 10 fours) and Owen got 97 (13 fours) as their 148-run stand for the fourth wicket took the visitors to 246-7 declared.

Then Hantam (4-64) and Owen (3-34) returned to inflict further punishment in a reply which ended on 181 (Negi 41).

Liverpool are threatened with relegation. A draw at Ainsdale leaves them just a point off the relegation zone. Skipper Stephen Nealey (72) and James McNally (51 not out) did their best but a fine spell of 6-47 by Mal Swift restricted them to 193-9 declared (61). Geoff Blackburn (3-29) and Jimmy Titmuss (3-33) reduced the home side to 106-8. Rainhill improved their hopes of survival by beating Southport Trinity.