Cricket: Crucial winner rescues relegation threat clubs

Sep 17 2007 by David Jones, Liverpool Daily Post

Crucial winner rescues relegation threat clubs

THE relegation fears of clubs at the bottom of the Competition’s First Division evaporated – thanks to a team chasing promotion.

Prestatyn’s crucial game against Rainhill was always going to have a bearing on the futures of Liverpool and Orrell Red Triangle, who faced each other at Aigburth, and Ainsdale.

But a comprehensive defeat of Rainhill by late afternoon earned the Welsh side promotion to the Premier, along with champions Formby, and consigned their opponents to a quick return to the Merseyside and Southport Alliance.

The second-bottom side did well enough after winning the toss. Kiwi skipper Andrew Ellis top scored with 93 out of 221-9 declared (47 overs) and Richard Smith hit 44.

But South African Will Hantam, who took 5-59, hammered the visitors’ attack for 100 off only 67 balls, to lead them to promotion. He shared 125 for the third wicket with Gareth Boughey (44 not out) and Alistair Taylor chipped in with 63.

Captain Steve Nealey stepped forward as Liverpool’s hero with a fine century against Orrell Red Triangle, but two of his young spinners, Neil Clarkson and Christian Edwards, played vital roles.

Nealey, having won the toss, hit a controlled 106 not out off 109 ball (18 fours) and with Martin Ho (41 not out) shared an unbroken 123 for the sixth wicket in a total of 221-5 declared (46 overs).

Midway through Orrell’s reply news had filtered through that Rainhill had lost and were relegated, but Clarkson (5-25) and Edwards (3-26) completed a terrific day to dismiss Orrell for 126 (Richard Smith 66). Northop Hall beat Sefton Park, but found they were pipped for promotion. The Welsh side only totalled 146 (Dave Poskitt 5-44, David Baird 3-23) after electing to bat, but Atat-ur-Rehman (5-33) and Simon Butler (3-1) skittled the hosts for 54 (24).

Dave Hadden, who has struck 1,000 runs this season, ended Formby’s championship-winning season in style with a brilliant 144 in the 29 run win at fourth-placed Newton-le-Willows. He hit one six and 21 fours in the visitors’ 254 (56.2) after winning the toss. Aaron Scott took 3-43 and Neil Birchall 3-54.

Ian Lyon (91, nine fours) led the response, backed up by skipper Ian Walkden (38) and Scott (35), but Liam Crilly’s superb 6-94 and Tony Rogan’s 4-73 ended their hopes.

Relegated Southport Trinity bowed out with a seven wicket victory as Anthony Hall (5-58) and James Haynes (3-38) restricted St Helens to 122 after they decided to bat. Mark Foster contributed 47 for the winners.

Chris Liptrot made Ainsdale suffer at Highfield. The all-rounder scored 58, sharing in 115 for the second wicket with Kiwi Todd Astle (98), in the home side’s 260-5 declared (55) after deciding to bat. Mike Farrell (65) had put on an opening century stand with Astle. Then Liptrot took 5-38 to help restrict the visitors to 222 (Waqar Khan 45).

Howard Carver (81) and Narender Negi (43) set up Wavertree for 201-6 declared (57) after winning the toss at Wigan, for whom James Taylor took 3-46. But Johnathan Nation (4-55) and Ian Jenions (3-68) put the brakes on the reply, which reached 171-9.