Hand it to Ring for 146 runs

WHILE the Second Division title may be Liverpool’s to lose, a clutch of other teams seem to be gathering for a battle royal in the second half of the 2017 cricket season.

Five sides are covered by 25 points after Saturday’s games which included a high-scoring draw between Maghull and Old Xaverians at Old Hall Field.

Jon Ring made 146 off 156 balls in the home side’s mammoth 271-8 declared in 55 overs with Matthew North doing his best to stem the tide with 5-65.

However OXs are a resilient bunch these days and skipper Ian Carroll contributed 88 as they replied with 220-8, William Mashinge taking 3-27.

Spring View remain second in the table despite losing by six wickets at St Helens Town.

Phil Murgatroyd took 6-40 to skittle the visitors for 109 and Harry Rigby’s 34 did much of the work to overhaul that total.

Wavertree are fifth in the table and still in contention after their exhilarating seven-wicket victory at Caldy.

Replying to the home side’s 223-9 declared, in which Haroon Khan made 90, the Sandown Lane team made 224-3, Darren Colin leading the charge with 94 not out.

At the top of the table, Prescot & Odyssey found Peter Kelly’s wiles too much for them at Aigburth.

The Liverpool spinner took 6-35 as P&O were rolled for just 106 and Henry Charlton’s 40 took Matt Jackson’s team to their tenth win in 13 league matches this season.

Tony Campbell took 3-56 in Parkfield Liscard’s 180-8 declared and then made 75 to help the Rookery team pass that target in 51.3 overs, albeit with only two wickets in hand.

Alastair Andrady’s 110 was the centrepiece of Northop Hall’s 107-run victory over Alder.

The home side made 238-4 declared in 52 overs and Daniel Clubbe took 5-53 in Alder’s 131 all out.

How they stand: Second Division: Liverpool 251, Spring View 208, Maghull 207, St Helens Town 194, Old Xaverians 191, Wavertree 182, Northop Hall 166, Southport Trinity 150, Caldy 132, Alder 125, Parkfield Liscard 97, Parkfield and Liscard 72.