Cricket: Wallasey devastated by Hightown bowler

May 19 2008 by David Jones, Liverpool Daily Post

JANNISAR KHAN caused devastation in the Wallasey ranks as Hightown enjoyed one of the quickest wins of the season.

The Pakistan medium quick bowler returned exceptional figures of 8-19 off 7.1 overs as the Wirral side were skittled for 43 in 14.1 overs.

Their innings lasted just 65 minutes and then the home side swept to a six-wicket win in 53 minutes, although John Murphy’s 3-18 saw the struggling side put up some resistance.

The match of the day in the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition Premier League ended in a draw, with leaders Ormskirk making life difficult for Firwood Bootle at Wadham Road.

It was painstaking rather than pulsating as the visitors batted for 76 overs after winning the toss to reach 143, in which John Armstrong top scored with 56 (eight fours), while Matty Lawless (3-7) and David Snellgrove (3-27) bowled well.

The champions decided with a maximum of 39 overs to have a go for victory. In doing so, they lost half their side for 51, before skipper Ian Cockbain (48) and Adam Warren (36 not out) took them close with a stand of 80 for the sixth wicket. But they were left on 131-7 at the close, Neil Wagner returning 3-53.

Neil Rimmer and Gary Wells enjoyed a run fest with an opening double hundred partnership as Fleetwood Hesketh beat Northern.

Skipper Rimmer, who hit 21 boundaries and three sixes in making 142, declared after 259-1 (51 overs) after electing to bat, with Wells, the Premier’s leading run scorer, reaching 104 not out (16 fours).

It didn’t intimidate the Crosby club, who made a determined effort before being dismissed for 217 (38.5), with James Cole making 77 not out. Jon Bowden (3-24), Kasun Bodhisha (3-33) and Paul Mullen (3-59) shared the honours.

A five-wicket haul for Louis Botes produced a quick finish at Rake Lane, where Southport & Birkdale managed only 75 after losing the toss, and lost by eight wickets.

Botes (5-15) and Nazim Mohammed (4-42) saw off the visitors in 25.1 overs and John While’s unbeaten 43 (five fours, two sixes) guided his side home.

Skipper Niall McDonnell has had a fine start to the season and his unbeaten 76 enabled Maghull to overcome Formby by six wickets.

The visitors chalked up 193-7 declared (59.3), in which Liam Crilly top scored with 60 not out. McDonnell replied with one six and 10 fours in his match-winning knock, sharing 76 for the second wicket with Paul Walters, and adding 65 for the third with Suwanji Madanayake (46).

Prestatyn’s Mario Olivier (5-36 off 19) and South African spinner Bobby Singular (3-55) restricted St Helens Recs to 119 (47.3) after they were inserted. Recs had the visitors at 7-3 before Marinus Heyns (45) and Gareth van Heerden (29 not out) edged them to a two-wicket success. Kiwi Anthony Bullick took 4-34.

Lytham were dismissed for 105 after electing to bat at Colwyn Bay. But the weather intervened as the home side reached 22-1 (7).