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ECB Premier League - Ormskirk triumph in Rake run feast
Saturday 9th July 2005

Runs always seem to be on the menu when New Brighton are playing. The feast at Rake Lane topped 500, with only three wickets falling, but it was Ormskirk who came out on top.

It was a momentous day for 22 year old Chris Davies, who scored his maiden Competition century (100*) as the home side advanced to 249-1d (52 overs) after being inserted. Davies shared in an opening stand of 89 for the first wicket with Matthew Thompson (42) and a magnificent partnership of 160 for the second with Rudra Singh (86*).

But the visitors are looking in good shape after early season lapses and Kevin Burns (103*) and skipper John Armstrong (96*) emphasised that with a brilliant 192* for the third to win by eight wickets after being dropped on 15 and 7 respectively.

League leaders Northern were determined there would be no surprises when they took on Northop Hall whose position is looking increasingly precarious at the foot of the table.

The Welsh side could not contain Kiwi James Marshall at Smithy Lane. The visitors were 82-3 when Carl Hey joined him and they put together a superb stand of 108, Marshall eventually cracking 111 (112 balls, 12x4s, 1x6) and Hey 63 out of 234-5d after 43 overs.

Northop's batting has lacked depth and it was evident again as only James Dyer (50) and Goolam Bodi (50) - they put together 95 for the first wicket - and Amir Mahmood (43) stood firm against the bowlers in replying with 176, spinner Steve Parry did the damage with 6-49.

Four straight defeats cannot do much for confidence and Fleetwood Hesketh's has been pretty low so their win over Sefton Park not only proved they can fight back against the odds, but that chances of avoiding relegation have improved, if only slightly.

Skipper Jon Bowden had warned that performances must improve, collectively and individually, but at 87-6 after winning the toss, another defeat loomed.

However, Pakistan Test bowler Mohammed Sami produced a vital knock with the bat, striking an unbeaten 95 (12x4s, 1x6) as the Premier League strugglers reached 200 (66 overs). Mike Bimpson's 22 out of 86 for the eighth wicket with Sami proved important, as Neil Rimmer's 40 had done earlier.

Sefton's reply looked threatening, but it later fell away, as Sami (4-35) and Peter Appleton (4-39) caused problems. They were dismissed for 162 (Ben Moore 34, Ramesh Powar 31), with the final wicket falling in the penultimate over.

Fleetwood Hesketh wicket keeper, Mike Bimpson equalled the ECB Premier League record for six victims in a match (ct 4, st 2), held jointly by Marc de Brabender and Graeme Jones since 2002.

Huyton have moved into fourth, courtesy of all round performances from Mike Lewis and Carl Menzie at Hightown.

Guy Edwards (46) and Martin Stoker (43) rallied the home side to 153 by compiling 74 for the fourth wicket. They were kept in check by Lewis (4-37) and Menzie (3-44), and then the pair shared 64 for the fifth wicket, scoring 50 and 32, respectively, in a four wicket triumph. Nathan Heathcliff-Core took 3-35.

Leigh were skittled for 75 (Andy Batterley 33) in 34.3 overs at Lytham, where Marcus Sharp (5-25) and Aaron Alley (4-14), plus Alley's 44, set up a seven wicket win at 76-3 after only 13.5 overs.

Bootle had the edge in a draw against Wallasey after Graham Lloyd set them up with 100 (19x4, 1x6). The ex Lancashire player shared 105 for the third wicket with Ian A Cockbain (50) as they set 245-4d in 42 overs after losing the toss..

Craig Prince (62) and skipper Phil Luxon (41) were solid in the reply to reach 214-9 (61 overs), with Ronnie Davis taking 4-43.

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