Recs find lifeline with victory over Hightown

Aug 25 2008 by James Pearce, Liverpool Daily Post

BOTTOM club St Helens Recs handed themselves a survival lifeline with a four-wicket win at Hightown.

Mark Jenkins took 3-39 as Hightown were bowled out for just 112 in 41 overs.

Recs reached 113-6 thanks to the efforts of Anthony Bullick (41no) and Andy Critchley (20no) after Nathan Heathcliff-Core had left them reeling with 6-35.

Ormskirk kept their title hopes alive with a comfortable 115-run win over lowly Maghull.

The Brook Lane outfit are back up to second place after leaders Bootle and New Brighton were both left frustrated.

Matthew Glayzer was the star for Ormskirk as he hammered 107 in their total of 258-5 declared off 44.4 overs. He received good support from Ian Glayzer (48no) and Neil Wagner (36).

Maghull were then dismissed for 143 with Nick Caunce doing the damage with 5-37.

Bootle’s lead at the top is 23 points after Wallasey hung on to force a draw at Wadham Road.

The champions struggled with the bat and posted 159 all out in 51 overs with David Snellgrove hitting 31. John Murphy took 3-29, while there were two wickets apiece for Mark Wilkie, Chris Bourne and Neil Clarkson.

But Bootle hit back in the field and Wallasey were in desperate trouble at 81-7. Adam Warren (3-38) and Ronnie Davis (4-28) impressed but some lower order resistance from Richard Conlan (22) and Bourne (20no) helped relegation-threatened Wallasey close on 116-9 off 40 overs.

New Brighton slipped to third after drawing at home to Prestatyn.

The hosts hit 197-7 declared off 53.5 overs with John While (93) and Lawrence Wilson (41) putting on 111 for the sixth wicket. Mario Olivier finished with 4-28.

In reply Prestatyn were reduced to 80-7 off 31 overs as Charitha Buddhika Fernando (3-6) and Martyn Evans (3-36) impressed. Fifth-placed Northern suffered an embarrassing 10-wicket thrashing at the hands of Southport & Birkdale.

They were dismissed for just 92 in 25.2 overs as James Dixon grabbed 5-29 and Craig Todd 3-18. The visitors needed just 15.3 overs to knock off the runs with Aussie Pat Jackson smashing 80 not out off just 44 balls.

Neil Rimmer hit an unbeaten century as Fleetwood Hesketh secured a 69-run win at home to Lytham.

Rimmer (108no) shared a stand of 127 for the third wicket with Kasun Bodhisha (86no) as Hesketh posted 221-2 declared off 53.4 overs.

Lytham were then bowled out for 152 in 39.4 overs.

Rain brought an early end to the other Premier League game at Colwyn Bay. Formby were struggling at 35-4 with Debasis Mohanty having taken 3-6 in reply to the home side’s total of 241-5 declared off 55 overs.