Bootle draw with leaders Leigh after securing Echo semi

FIRWOOD Bootle knew full well last Saturday that they were in for a tough game when Premier League leaders Leigh visited Wadham Road and included in their line-up two men, Karl Brown and Luis Reece, who had played in Lancashire’s NatWest T20 Blast win over Durham at Chesterle-Street the previous evening.

Craig Prince chose to take first use of an excellent batting strip only to see his side’s first three wickets fall at 14.

After such a poor start Michael Gill played superbly for his 63 made in 2 hours 27 minutes at the crease, prompting a Bootle revival with welcome help from Jackson Knight (22) and Scott Butterworth (29).

Wicketkeeper Neil Williams contributed a valuable 31 before being dubiously run out and the home side were eventu- ally dismissed for 173 after 53 overs.

When Leigh moved smoothly to 55-1 in reply, it looked as though they were comfortably in control of their destiny, but the loss of four wickets in fourteen balls swung the momentum slightly the other way.

The total moved to 84-6 at the start of the last hour, but Brown was still in occupation and appeared to be pacing the run chase expertly with the visitors now needing 90 to win.

He and skipper Tom Foster added 55 together for the 7th wicket but when they were both out in the same Greg Butterworth over Bootlew sensed an opportunity to snatch a dramatic win.

Matthew Hibbert tried to keep Leigh’s hopes alive with three boundaries in three balls, but when he was run out for 17 the shutters came down and the visitors ended on 155-9 to secure the draw.

Two days earlier Bootle reached the semi-finals of the Echo Cup with a fortuitous win over 1st Divi- sion Maghull at Old Hall Field. When the visitors total slumped to 39-6 after ten overs a competitive total seemed highly unlikely until Greg Butterworth hit a run-a-ball 39 and the innings closed on 102-9.

The umpires then added six penalty runs to the score as Maghull had exceeded the limit of 75 minutes in which to bowl their twenty overs

Prince’s men partially redeemed themselves with some sharp bowling and fielding, though a fine 58 from Jack Wrigglesworth seemed to have his side heading towards a shock victory. The final over began with the total on 97-5 (12 needed to win or 11 with fewer wickets lost) but when Scott Butterworth clean bowled Wrigglesworth and Liam Johnson with successive deliveries the outcome was settled and Maghull ended on 102-7, a loss by 6 runs.

This Saturday Bootle entertain Formby at Wadham Road in the Premier League.