We still need a miracle, admits skipper Caunce
ORMSKIRK captain Nicky Caunce has conceded his side would still need a miracle to lift the L&DCC Premier Division this season, despite Northern’s draw against Lytham last weekend.
The reigning champions reduced the deficit on the leaders to 44 points with two games remaining after destroying Highfield on Saturday.
The hosts were instructed to field first by Caunce and could only watch as Alex Rankin (86) and John Armstrong (67) put on a massive 160 for the first wicket.
Andrew Baybutt’s 38 and Gary Knight’s unbeaten 31 helped Ormskirk to 236-3 declared after 49 overs before Scott Lees and Ryan Maddock – who both snared four wickets apiece – skittled Highfield for just 93.
“Northern only need six points to win the title and we’d need to get maximum points in those games so I can’t see it happening,” Caunce said after the win.
“It will still be difficult and we still need a miracle.
“But we needed to put the last few weeks behind us and get back to winning ways.”
In the past several weeks, Ormskirk have all but dropped out of the title race as well as losing key clashes in the Lancashire Cup semi-final, National Cup quarterfinal and the Ray Digman semifinal.
With just two games now remaining of the L&DCC season, Caunce is eyeing a positive end for his young team.
“We’ve had an atrocious five games in the last two or three weeks. We went from being in the league title race, Lancashire Cup semi-final, a National quarterfinal and a Ray Digman semifinal to nothing at all, really.
“All of those games have been somewhat affected by the rain but we can’t use that as an excuse.
“We’ve been beaten in all of them and we don’t deserve to be in any of the finals with the way we’ve performed.
“I think it’s now about getting confidence and winning the last few games going into the winter. We can go out on a high.”