Ormskirk pass a test of character in style

Jun 30 2008 by David Jones, Liverpool Daily Post

Ormskirk pass a test of character in style

THERE are times when things don’t go according to plan.

It then becomes a test of character to prove that your quality shines through. Ormskirk passed that test in tricky circumstances against Prestatyn to hot up the chase for the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition Premier League title.

Skipper Adam Waterhouse wanted to maximise the points by electing to bat on a damp wicket. The plan might have backfired, too, as his side made a disappointing 106 (Mario Olivier 5-29). But the second-placed side had Simon Kerrigan in their ranks and he ripped through the Welsh visitors with 6-16 off 12.3 as they slumped to 80.

The gap on leaders Bootle is now just three points after they were held to a draw by Hightown, for whom Pakistan all-rounder Jannisar Khan starred with 124 (14 fours, three sixes) out of 186-7 declared (68.4) after being inserted at Wadham Road.

The champions went for it, slipped to 112-8 (Parry 41), but Ronnie Davis (30 not out) and Mark O’Connor (30) fought back before they closed at 173-9 (39). Visiting captain Ian Sutcliffe finished with 6-48 (15).

New Brighton, with their seventh win from eight games, are challenging too.

The third placed side totalled 177 (John While 43, Zahid Mohammed 35, Martyn Evans 31) against Colwyn Bay, for whom Ryan Holtby took 5-29 and Debasis Mohanty 3-45. But Charitha Fernando (5-35) and Evans (4-40) reduced the visitors to 114 (Paul Jenkins 40).

Bowling performance of the day was undoubtedly Jack Woosey’s magnificent 9-61 (25.5 overs) as Northern beat Formby by 25 runs.

Woosey clinched victory with one ball remaining as the visitors succumbed for 165 (Jude Mahadanaarachchi 50, Dave Conlan 35), in reply to a home total of 190-9 declared (55 overs). Opener Nick Woods dominated with 98 (11 fours), while Liam Crilly’s excellent spell earned fine figures of 7-55 (15).

Dale Cranston (56 not out) and Mark Baker (27) helped Southport & Birkdale recover with a stand of 70 which laid the foundations for victory over Wallasey.

Kiwi Anthony Bullick turned on the style as St Helens Recs won only their second game of the season at Fleetwood Hesketh. Steve Martindale (65) and Bullick (33) lifted Recs to 202 (62.1) after being inserted, with Andy Watts (3-19) and Andy Davies (3-59) the pick of the home bowling. But Bullick’s medium pace captured 7-43 (14.4) as the home side slipped to 151 (Kasun Bodhisha 72, Gary Wells 37).

Suwanji Madanayake (5-70) and Paul Bower (4-42) restricted Lytham to 193 (54.4) after Maghull invited them to bat. But the visitors slumped to 127.