45 stars needled by Lytham

A PREMIER League trip to Lytham last Saturday turned out to be an unrewarding one for Firwood Bootle who were asked to bat first after losing the toss and found the going tough against a more than competent home bowling attack.

Openers Craig Prince and Jackson Knight raised 45 for the first wicket but runs were coming at a slow pace, the latter staying in for 106 balls before, when just one short of his half-century, he swept at Ben Saunders and was bowled round his legs.

Michael Gill hit nine boundaries in a typically obdurate innings of 55 but Bootle were forced to bat on after the tea interval before declaring on 190-9 after 59 overs.

The hosts’ reply began somewhat shakily when they lost their first three wickets for 32 but Gary Knight batted stubbornly to hold the innings together and, try as they might, the Bootle bowlers could not dislodge him.

Three wickets in a sensational over from the tireless Scott Butterworth (4-60) reduced Lytham to 82-6 to give the visitors a clear sight of victory.

However, a seventhwicket stand of 65 between Knight and Joe Davies, who hit an attacking 39 from 32 balls, changed the perspective yet again.

The match edged its way towards a tense conclusion and Knight was 63 not out when Lytham won by two wickets in the 47th over with just seven balls to spare.

The previous Thursday Bootle comfortably defeated Rainhill in a NatWest National Club T20 tie at Wadham Road, where a second-wicket partnership of 121 between Neil Williams (63) and Danny Davies (53) set their side up for a total of 183-5.

The visitors were not able to stay abreast of the stiff asking rate of 9.2 runs per over and Chris Cunningham helped himself to 5-16 as Rainhill subsided for 104 in the 17th over to lose by 79 runs.

Tomorrow evening (6pm) Bootle host Alder in the ECHO Challenge Cup and the following afternoon have a Premier League fixture with New Brighton.