Skelmersdale earn themselves a vital win

Jun 23 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

SKELMERSDALE looked to be staring down the barrel – but it was Newton-le-Willows who eventually shot themselves in the foot.

It was a tremendous turn-around for Skelmersdale, who seemed destined for defeat as Newton reached 125-5 as they chased the visitors’ 141 (42.3 overs). But they hit back with the last five wickets crashing for six runs to clinch the spoils.

Mike Walkden (5-55) and Danny Barlow (3-14) had kept the lid on Skem’s knock, in which Jonas Smith made 40. Then ex-Lancashire captain Mark Chilton hit 41 in reply as the home side looked poised, but off spinner Hemal Watekar (4-13 off 16) and left arm medium pacer Smith (4-54) caused the late shocks.

While that win lifted them away from the danger zone, the other new boys, Rainford, are moving menacingly into title consideration.

Chris Tonge (3-28) and Pravin Tambe (3-23) restricted bottom club Huyton to 122 (40.3) after they elected to bat. The visitors lost a couple of early wickets but Michael Rimmer (31) and Tonge (30) put on 47 as the visitors claimed a four-wicket win.

St Helens made it two wins out of two in their quest for safety. Highfield set a target of 154 (37.5) after being inserted.

Shoaib Khan (69 not out, six fours) led the response and 16-year-old Jack Graham (13 not out) combined with a crucial 30 run stand for the ninth which saw St Helens home by two wickets.

Wigan could be promotion contenders after a 28 run win over Wavertree elevated them to fourth spot.

Shiv Das topped 700 runs for the season – but Liverpool were held to a draw by Orrell Red Triangle.

Das hit 95 (12 fours, two sixes) and shared a second wicket stand of 118 with Jimmy Titmuss (52, seven fours) en route to 195-7 declared (51) after being inserted. Stephen Nealey was 22 not out and Andrew Mercer had figures of 4-59.

Ather Abid (38), Richard Smith (32) and skipper Chris Riley (31) hit back for the visitors, who had reached 146-5 (29) by the close.

Leaders Leigh put Northop Hall in to bat and the Welsh side reached 121-6 (Dave Kennedy 35, Jaffar Nazir 3-26) before rain and bad light cut the action short.

Ainsdale’s match with Sefton Park was abandoned without a ball being bowled.