Caldy’s see-saw sorrow
BOOTLE claimed their second trophy of 2018 with a fivewicket win over Rainford in the final of the Ray Digman Cup on Sunday.
Rain delayed the start and reduced the game to 43 overs a side, and scoring was a tricky business throughout. Asked to bat, the hosts squelched to 76/7 before a recovery of sorts lifted them to 134 all out – Comrey Edgeworth battled to 33* off 85 balls, while Daniel Davies took 3/28.
Bootle, crucially, knew they were in no rush. They didn’t score significantly quicker – Sam Kershaw’s 37 occupied 61 balls – but they didn’t lose wickets as regularly, and new skipper Neil Williams was at the crease when the winning runs came with 5.3 overs to spare.
The previous day, Liverpool Gin Liverpool Competition champions Northern had wrapped up the season with a win that typified their whole campaign – classy, ultimately comfortable, and inspired by Tom Sephton and Liam Grey.
After Grey’s 101* – his third league ton of the season – visitors Formby had reached 142/4 in pursuit of 253. But Sephton had other ideas and demolished their late order, finishing with 8/61 – including a hat-trick – in a 56-run win.
Ormskirk had to settle for a draw after Rainhill’s Tyler McGladdery – who is joining the 2017 champions next season – made himself at home by hitting 124, taking his tally for the league season to 936. The visitors declared on 220/4 and Ormskirk batted the game out to close on 142/6.
New Brighton continued their impressive late-season form with a fine run chase against Bootle, inspired by 77 from Mark Rowland and an unbeaten 72 from skipper Andrew Clarke. Sam Kershaw and Vishal Tripathi had hit half-centuries in Bootle’s 226/8, but the hosts reached the target with six wickets to spare.
Wallasey also finished with a win, chasing down 169 at Highfield with seven wickets to spare thanks to an unbeaten 60 from Jack Leckey, after Michael Gaskey’s 58 for the relegated side. Christopher Bourne took 6/76.
Colwyn Bay recovered from a shaky start at Rainford to post 178/9, thanks largely to Ryan Holtby’s unbeaten 52, while John Dotters took 5/42. It proved too much for the hosts, who succumbed to Paul Jenkins’ 6/37 and lost by 46 runs, having at one stage been 75/2.
Lytham chased down 191 to beat Leigh by two wickets. AFTER a see-saw season – one of those fancy see-saws with three seats – it was Caldy who missed out on promotion, with Old Xaverians taking the title and Northop Hall coming in second.
Xavs ran through Spring View’s lower order to leave themselves a chase of 137, which they achieved with four wickets to spare.
Hall needed Ben Slater’s 50 to lift them to 119 at St Helens Town – it proved to be more than enough, as Daniel Clubbe took 5/45 and James Hurlin 5/4 to earn a 51-run win.
Neither side need have bothered though – Caldy lost to Sutton, who have been impressive on their return to the Competition. The Wirral side’s Zaighum Abbas took 5/45 to dismiss the St Helens men for 182; but Joseph Noctor went one better, snaffling 6/37 to wrap up a 30-run victory.
Southport Trinity’s Tony Campbell took 5/16 to run through Parkfield Liscard for just 75; the Trinity openers sealed a 10-wicket win.
And Alder’s season of transition ended with a 19th defeat from a possible 19. They got close – Hightown St Marys lost eight wickets in pursuit of 104 – but didn’t quite get over the line.