Liverpool condemn St Helens to defeat

Jun 30 2008 by David Jones, Liverpool Daily Post

ST HELENS equalled their lowest of score of the season – 47 – as wickets tumbled in their defeat to Liverpool.

Both sides needed the points. St Helens had won their last two in the Competition’s First Division, but still languish near the relegation zone, while Liverpool, after an inconsistent run, needed to improve on their mid-table spot.

That looked unlikely as they slumped to 11-4 after deciding to bat. But Matt Jackson (50), lifted their score to 132.

St Helens’ plight was worse. There seemed no way back from 13-5 and so it proved, Jimmy Titmuss (5-22) being the main destroyer as they crashed again below 50.

Plenty of timber fell at Huyton, too, where the home side collapsed dramatically against Skelmersdale.

The bottom club dismissed the visitors for 113-1.

Huyton fell to 60 all out.

Rainford’s debut season in the league is proving spectacular and a tremendous chase led to a one-wicket win over Wigan and top spot.

Former leaders Leigh drew with Sefton Park, for whom extras top scored with 46 in the visitors’ 200 (64.4) after being put in.

Jaffar Nazir took 5-56 and Chris Bellis made 42. The home side replied with 104-7 (37), after being 64-7. David Baird took 3-34.

Northop Hall remain third after defeating Newton-le-Willows.

Ata-ur-Rehman caused the home side’s downfall with a superb 8-47 as the home side slipped from 75-3 to 115 (38.4).

Danny Nolan (33) helped the Welsh side to a seven-wicket win.

Sean Casham (103, 14 fours, two sixes) and Niranjan Behera (43) shared 121 for the second wicket at Ainsdale in Highfield’s 196 (54).

Yasir Ali took a hat-trick in his 6-49 and Tom Prescott 3-21. The home side collapsed to 72 (Chris Liptrot 4-37, Behera 4-25).

Orrell Red Triangle (184, Richard Smith 51, Narender Negi 5-41) drew with Wavertree, who failed to get two runs off the last ball so finished level on 184-9. Negi hit 89, while Andrew Mercer took 4-48 and Smith 4-50.