Joy as Isaac hits his maiden ton in victory
LIVERPOOL Gin Liverpool Competition: ECB Premier League: Southport and Birkdale (24pts), 192 for six declared, beat Colwyn Bay (5pts), 150 all out, by 42 runs
THERE is, perhaps, nothing more heartening in sport than seeing a young player begin to achieve his potential.
So when 18-year-old Isaac Lea reached his maiden first-team century with a six into the Trafalgar Road pavilion on Saturday, the cheers that rang out across the ground greeted rather more than an innings which laid the foundations for a vital victory over Colwyn Bay in Southport and Birkdale’s battle to retain their Premier League status.
They saluted the emergence of a fast-maturing batsman who is now just 22 runs shy of 500 league runs this season.
“This had been coming for some time,” said S&B’s skipper, Chris Firth. “Isaac had been getting himself in but then feeling almost hesitant to take the game to the opposition. But I’m very proud of him and you could hear us all yelling when he reached three figures. It is very pleasing.”
But Lea, like Firth, is a team man
and he knew his 116 would not have seemed half as pleasurable on Saturday evening had not S&B’s bowlers followed it up by completing the victory which takes their side 33 points clear of their opponents on Saturday and keeps them 14 ahead of Lytham with two matches left in the season. They are not yet safe but their fate remains in their own hands.
That it should be so is largely thanks to Lea and Bradley Yates, whose watchful second-wicket partnership of 110 allowed Firth to declare two overs after tea with 192 for six on the board. The young opener had moved through his gears very smoothly but S&B’s victory was also achieved by their three spinners, who first contained Colwyn Bay’s batsmen and then dismissed them as the pressure to score 110 runs in the last 20 overs increased.
The groundwork in the second innings was done by Firth and Gary Keedy and the latter’s dismissal of Sion Morris was a pivotal moment in the game. But it was Cunningham who dismissed Colwyn Bay’s professional, Saliya Jeewantha, caught at mid-off by Will Affleck, and the offspinner followed up that success with four more wickets that once again revealed his value to S&B’s attack.
But then Cunningham is also a club man and his delight at Lea’s century was no doubt expressed in characteristically subtle fashion. The celebration that followed the game was equally joyous but no one at Trafalgar Road has kidded themselves the job is yet done. Northern visit S&B on Saturday and Firth’s team ends their season at Wallasey a week later.
There is, though, the most pleasant appendix to Isaac’s achievement. S&B’s junior section is currently working hard to buy new covers, the cost of which is £3,500, and Isaac’s father, Jonny, is in full training to run the Lisbon Half Marathon on October 20th. Those wishing to support this excellent effort can go Jonny’s Facebook page “Running for Covers” or simply contact the club, who will have further details regarding sponsorship.
And perhaps the most significant S&B
Affleck ..................................................... lbw Jeewantha Lea ..................................................................... b Westwell Yates ............................................. c Johansen b Holtby Carney ................................................ c Littler b Jenkins May ...................................................... st Littler b Jenkins Phillips ............................................................ lbw Jenkins J Baybutt ................................................................. not out Cunningham ....................................................... not out Extras ....................................................................... ................ TOTAL (for six wkts. decl.) ..............................................
FoW: 1-22 2-132 3-175 4-177 5-191 6-192
Jeewantha 15-7-23-1 Holtby 9-1-40-1 Jenkins 18-4-68-3 Moorhouse 7-2-28-0 Spillane 3-012-0 Westwell 3-0-19-1
COLWYN BAY
Morris .................................................................. lbw Keedy Westwell .................................................... c Yates b Firth Littler ........................................................... c Lea b Keedy Jeewantha .......................... c Affleck b Cunningham Johansen ............................ c Phillips b Cunningham Higginson ............................................... b Cunningham Gidlow ...................................................... c Yates b Keedy Holtby .................................. c Baybutt b Cunningham Jenkins ..................................................... b Cunningham Moorhouse ........................................................... b Keedy Spillane ..................................................................... not out Extras ........................................................................................ TOTAL ........................................................................................
FoW: 1-46 2-59 3-87 4-87 5-97 6-106 7-128 8-147 9-148 10-150
Gailey 5-1-21-0 Firth 15-2-29-1 Keedy 21-4-59-4 Cunningham 10.4-2-35-5 7 116 48 1
7
9
1
0
3 192 40 14 10 19 2 11 18 27 3
0
0
6 150
day of the season for Southport and Birkdale was completed by the news that the second team had beaten Sefton Park by four wickets. Andy Warhurst took five for 47 in the home side’s 131 all out and despite Phil Calrow’s four for 42, S&B overhauled this total in 37.2 overs, Nick Devlin making 64 not out.
Tom Baybutt’s side now lie in 10th place, only one above the relegation spots but 30 points ahead of Wigan and 22 above Colwyn Bay.