Ormskirk on title track but suffer semi-final blow

ORMSKIRK Cricket Club’s first XI are edging closer to the Liverpool Gin Liverpool & District Cricket Competition Premier Division title after picking up their 10th straight victory against Lytham last Saturday afternoon.

They currently sit at the top of the table and have a commanding lead of 77 points over New Brighton in second spot.

Last weekend’s opponents from the Fylde are mid-table but Ormskirk brushed them aside with ease, bowling them all out for just 101.

Skipper Matt Glayzer, number two batsman Michael Jones and bowler Alex Mason were the only players for Ormskirk who did not contribute to the scoreboard as the visitors rattled up 204-9 declared after 53 overs at the crease. John Armstrong (54) and Andrew Baybutt (44) were the pick of the batsmen for Ormskirk, while Josh Bohannon’s five wickets stood out in the field.

The victory on Saturday could not be followed up, however, as Ormskirk were defeated in the National Club Twenty20 semi-final on Sunday.

Farnworth won by 28 runs as Ormskirk could only put together 121 runs in response to their opponents’ 149.

Ormskirk still remain unbeaten in the league since their defeat against seventhplaced Leigh on the opening weekend of July. While Sunday’s defeat will have been disappointing, Ormskirk’s priority has always been to win the title and they look well on track to achieve their goal.

Glayzer and his side return to action this Saturday when they host Wallasey at Brook Lane in their latest league fixture.

Wallasey – now with ex-England spinner Monty Panesar in their ranks – have lost four successive games so Ormskirk will go into the game as resounding favourites. Ormskirk then visit York CC on Sunday in the ECB National Club Championship Cup.

Both matches start at 1pm.