Firth fantastic as S&B look certain of return to top table

THERE may have been disappointment on T20 finals day for Southport & Birkdale – but Chris Firth’s men look odds-on for a swift return to the Premier Division.

Firth was the star as S&B became the first side in the league to reach 10 wins this season by seeing off Newton-leWillows by 90 runs. The skipper’s 8/55 – including a hat-trick – took him past 500 first team wickets, and blew away the hosts for just 101.

Sefton Park helped keep things interesting with a 36-run win over second placed Orrell Red Triangle.

They took their time – skipper Richie Forsyth faced 163 balls for his 55, before a late burst took them to 201/8 off 61 overs, with Afaq Ali Sartaj taking 5/58 – but it turned out to be a wise move as Orrell fell short.

Wigan are now just 10 points behind Orrell after their four-wicket win over Birkenhead Park. The Wirral side had Jordan Relph’s 72 to thank for their total of 182, as Aaron Redmond took a career-best 7/58, but it wasn’t enough. New Zealand Test star Redmond hit 54 and John Richardson an unbeaten 61 in the successful chase.

Burscough pulled clear of Liverpool at the bottom with a 39-run win.

Ryan Hughes’ 68 set up the hosts’ total of 174, while Jared Clein wheeled away for 6/41; despite a strong start, the visitors succumbed to Lee Berrie’s 5/51.

Fleetwood Hesketh’s Andrew Watts hit 93 to set up a total of 223 against Prestatyn; Gavin Dickenson then took 8/66 to wrap up a 51-run win, despite Ryan Westwell’s 67.

In a low-scoring clash at Ainsdale, Wavertree hung on to win by two wickets, after dismissing the hosts for 110.