Maghull beat the rain - and Wavertree - to move up to fifth

BAD weather and fixture rearrangement meant that only three games were played in the Second Division of the Liverpool Gin Liverpool Competition on Saturday.

The best of that trio was that played at Old Xaverians where St Helens Town just failed to collect the 16 extra points for the win which would have seen them move up to second place in the table.

Opting to bat first - the only side in the Competition to do so Old Xavs were dismissed for 192 in 51.5 overs with Matthew North making 62 and James Davies taking 3-55. However, the real excitement was reserved for the second half of the game as Craig Woods’ 47 led the visitors’ charge at that target. But St Helens finished an agonising three runs short on 190-6 after 57 overs and are now fourth in the table, 19 points behind the leaders, Liverpool, who didn’t have a game on Saturday.

Two other games were completed much more swiftly. At Maghull Greg Gillespie made 51 in the home side’s 207-9 declared in only 39 overs and then seamer William Mashinge took 6-11 as Wavertree were skittled for 68. Maghull’s 139-run victory hoists them up to fifth place in the table.

Alder’s six-wicket victory over Southport Trinity was completed even more rapidly. Nazim Mohammed took 8-14 as the visitors were rolled for a mere 50 runs in 25.1 overs and Kamran Hussain’s unbeaten 36 ensured this modest target was passed in only 15 overs.

The matches at Parkfield Liscard and Prescot & Odyssey were abandoned without a ball bowled.