Parry puts on a champion display

Apr 21 2008 by David Jones, Liverpool Daily Post

Parry puts on a champion display

CHAMPIONS Firwood Bootle were soon into the groove as they opened the defence of their crown in emphatic style.

Stephen Parry is hoping to make his mark with Lancashire this season, but he made a pretty good impression on Colwyn Bay, although there was disappointment he didn’t manage three figures.

Parry top-scored with 98 (13 fours), sharing 86 for the fourth wicket with Jack Kelliher (30), as the Wadham Road outfit called a halt at 222-9 declared.

The home team’s Ronnie Davis imposed himself on the reply with 5-29 in 12 overs that saw the Welsh side’s resistance end on 103 (Sion Morris 42).

Southport have made an excellent start to their campaign. Having beaten Wallasey on the opening day, they made light of a Prestatyn target of 208 off 51.1 overs to win by six wickets – a result which puts them top of the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition Premier League.

South African Justin Labuschagne (5-26) and Patrick Jackson (3-45) provided the best spells of the Welsh side’s knock.

But the two Marks then got going for the home side. Mark Baker hit 13 fours in 90 not out and skipper Mark Fletcher was 34 not out as their unbroken 70 for the fifth wicket was decisive.

New Brighton could once again be challenging for top honours this season and they certainly dominated for much of the game against Maghull.

Paul Hale (60 not out) and David While (56 not out) shared an unbroken 119 for the third wicket in an impressive 221-2 declared. A spirited response from visiting skipper Niall McDonnell, who amassed 91 (11 fours, one six), looked to challenge that total and Suwanji Madanayake (39) gave assistance. But spells from Ashraf Nawab (4-60) and Martyn Evans (3-23) restricted the visitors to 191 (53.3).

Northern came a cropper against St Helens Recs, but what a fighting show from the visitors, who got home by two wickets at Crosby.

Stephen Cole (64) and Karl Garcia (39) led the way as the home side totalled 168. Young Craig Woods returned fine figures of 5-33 and Kiwi Anthony Bullick took 3-50. But Recs, with Mark Jenkins (53 not out) and Shaun Latham (47), leading the way earned a superb win.

Gary Wells made a successful return to Fleetwood Hesketh’s side with an unbeaten 52. He shared an unbroken century stand with skipper Neil Rimmer (44) in their 10 wicket win over Hightown. The visitors collapsed to 100, Paul Mullen (4-32) and Mark Prince (4-32) doing the damage.

Simon Kerrigan (3-24) and Aussie sub pro David Bandy (3-38) put the skids under Formby, who suffered a second defeat at Ormskirk. Jude Mahadanaarachchi (34) top-scored but their target of 115 was easily overcome by seven wickets, Matthew Glayzer (49) and James Killingworth (34) sharing an opening stand of 77.

Wallasey went down to a four wickets defeat at Lytham, where newcomer Paul Harrison (58) top scored in their 192-8 declared. Chris Bourne took 3-53 in the home reply.