Caunce satisfied with Kirk

NICKY Caunce’s Ormskirk responded brilliantly to successive defeats by recording two victories in two days last weekend.

Lytham were the first to be swatted aside in league action before a crushing win over Chorley in the ECB National Club Championship ensured a return to form for Caunce’s men.

After defeats to Formby and Bootle in recent weeks, the skipper moved to defend his reigning champions.

“Nobody is downbeat. Everyone knows the situation and knows what needs to be done going forwards,” he said after the loss to Bootle.

“Hopefully we can correct things in the coming weekend using both bat and ball.”

If that was his rallying cry, then his players certainly responded.

Lytham won the toss on Saturday and elected to field, but skipper Ben Saunders was made to rue his decision.

Ormskirk smashed 224-3 from 52 overs before declaring, largely thanks to opener Andrew Maybutt’s 76 and Joshua Bohannon’s 74.

By the time wicketkeeper George Lavelle had scored 38 from as many balls, Caunce called his troops back to the pavilion and they made light work of Lytham’s batting effort.

Tom Hartley (3-13) and Ryan Maddock (3-21) ripped the hosts apart as they staggered to a limp 102 all-out inside 37 overs.

Caunce’s side carried that momentum seamlessly into their National Cup tie at home to Chorley the following afternoon, with Ormskirk making 220-6 from their allotted 40 overs.

Baybutt and Alex Rankin’s opening stand of 71 laid the foundations for Gary Knight’s fast-paced 66 from 50 balls, but it was bowler Hartley who stole the show in the visitors innings.

He picked up where he left off with an impressive haul of 4-21 as he reduced Lytham to 149 all-out from 35 overs.

Caunce said: “I’m really enjoying it. It’s similar to what I expected with the pressures, but I’m really enjoying it”.