S&B crush Fleetwood Hesketh in title clinch

SOUTHPORT & Birkdale sealed the Division One title with a crushing nine-wicket win at Fleetwood Hesketh.

Andrew Warhurst’s 8/24 demolished the hosts for just 43 – only one batsman made it to double figures – and the chase was a formality, sealed with a six by Isaac Lea.

The 25 points they picked up made it impossible for Orrell Red Triangle to catch them, despite picking up the maximum themselves in a dramatic win at home to Prestatyn.

From 105/2, the Welshmen collapsed to 169 all out, despite Peter Cassidy’s 72 – in reply, Orrell slipped to 16/3, recovered to 105/3 thanks to Christopher Riley’s 56, wobbled again, then looked home and dry on 163/7 – before a couple of late wickets left the last pair to hit the winning runs.

Sefton Park – Liverpool’s highest placed side - rounded off an encouraging season by beating Ainsdale to claim third place. Skipper Richie Forsyth hit 69 and Bajan import Jemain Davis 56 to set up Park’s 220/5; in reply, the Southport side were downed by a trio of ducks in their top order, and despite Connor Windell’s 72, they fell short by 64 runs.

Wavertree’s Theo O’Brien took a hat-trick as they won an exciting encounter at Burscough. Alan Murray hit 81 in the hosts’ 221, but Josh Birch led from the front with 117 as the visitors won by three wickets.

Harry Meehan’s unbeaten 103 helped Birkenhead Park to a six-wicket win over Liverpool, for whom Sam Holliday hit 80 in a total of 193/7; Newton-le-Willows had to settle for a draw at Wigan, closing on 158/8 in reply to 160/9.