Maghull hold on to deny Alder first win of the season

NORTHOP HALL took advantage of Caldy’s week off by pulling clear at the top of Division Two with a 37-run win over Spring View.

Opener Alex Smith led the way with 93 out of a total of 191. Jack Billington then took 5-44 as the Wigan side’s middle order collapsed, before Hasan Ali Fazal hit an aggressive but futile 72. Parkfield Liscard edged a lowscoring encounter at Old Xaverians. Rattled out for 63, with Colin Gibson finishing with 4-7, the Wirral side managed to run through their hosts for just 51, thanks to Muhammed Nazim’s 6-22. Promoted Sutton continue to impress – they rallied from 61-5 to post 161-8 against Southport Trinity. The visitors looked good on 88-2, but Joseph Noctor’s 6-38 sealed a 20-run win.

Alder came agonisingly close to their first win of the season at Maghull. After the hosts took just 30 overs to rack up 197-2 – Paul Walters hit an unbeaten 81 and Jonathan Ring 62 in an opening stand of 115 – it was win or bust for the West Derby side. Eight men passed double figures, but the last of them fell just three runs short. Hightown St Mary’s game with St Helens Town fell victim to the weather, with the hosts on 33-3 when proceedings were called off.