Evans keeps Brighton bandwagon rolling

Jun 16 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

Evans keeps Brighton bandwagon rolling

CONSISTENCY is a key ingredient for any side seriously considering themselves as title contenders.

In the early part of the season, New Brighton looked anything but as they lost three of their opening six games. However, six straight wins later, and they have certainly announced their intentions.

Their sixth came in a straightforward success at St Helens Recs, where Martyn Evans took 7-20 (8.4 overs) as the home side were dismissed for 115 (Anthony Bullick 57), in reply to the Wirral club’s 220-6 declared (53.5). Evans contributed 52 of them and Paul Hale 60.

What made it all the sweeter was the fact that leading Business Assistance Liverpool Competition Premier League title contenders Firwood Bootle, Ormskirk and Northern, all lost and New Brighton have closed the gap at the top to 23 points.

Champions Bootle came up against Formby and Tom Smith, the Lancashire player, making his debut.

Everything seemed normal as Jack Kelliher (74) top scored in Bootle’s 241-8 declared off 48.1 overs, Liam Crilly taking 4-52 and Smith 3-67, and then had the home side on their knees at 18-3.

Enter Smith who, along with Graeme Morris, took the game by the scruff of the neck. He cracked a 111 and Morris 91 in a partnership of 216 for the fourth and a five wicket win was clinched with one ball to spare.

Ormskirk slipped up at Lytham, where a lowly 132 after winning the toss (John Armstrong 55, Richard Openshaw 4-25, Jimmy Wisniewski 4-38) never looked enough. But, the home side had to battle for the points, getting home by two wickets. Nick Caunce took 3-21.

Northern lost by five wickets at Wallasey, collapsing from 103-1 to 159 (46.3) after electing to bat. Michael Johnson hit 60 and Jack Boardman 41. Spinner Neil Clarkson (5-56) and Chris Bourne (4-37) did the damage.

Nick Woods (3-62) hit back but Ben Parker (56 not out) and Charlie Boucher (36) saw the Wirral side home.

Fleetwood Hesketh moved back into the top five after a 41 run win at Prestatyn. Gary Wells (48) and Neil Rimmer (44) opened with 88 out of 211 (Mike Bimpson 42, Gareth Boughey 3-9) after losing the toss.

Andrew Davies (4-36) and Kasun Bodhisha (3-42) helped restrict the reply to 170 (42.4), Haydn Williams hitting 50.

Skipper Niall McDonnell and Suwanji Madanayake starred in Maghull’s seven wicket triumph over Southport & Birkdale, who scored 170 (Justin Labuschange 48,Paul Bower 4-56, Madanayake 4-67). McDonnell (78 not out) and Madanayake (35 not out) earned a comfortable win.

Colwyn Bay made it two out of two, Sion Morris (57, 10 fours, one six) and David Parry (50, eight fours) doing best in the visitors’ 186-8 declared (Jannisar Khan 4-43) at Hightown. Home skipper Ian Sutcliffe made 43 in their 124 (Debasis Mohanty 4-27).