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ECB Premier League - Bootle get home with two balls to spare
Saturday 16th July 2005

So far, Bootle's season has not been classed as a vintage one but not many sides are capable of successfully chasing a score in excess of 230 in less than 33 overs. Ormskirk set Bootle the task at Wadham Road and they came through with just two balls remaining.

There had been a fourth wicket stand of 119 between John Armstrong (64, 6x4s, 1x6) and Michael Lambert (50, 6x4s) as Ormskirk totalled 236-9d from 73 overs. Adam Sanford (31) and Adam Waterhouse (23*) also batted well but Adam Warren's input of 6-60 from 22 overs was outstanding.

If the champions make it three titles in succession, this game will have proved significant. Graham Lloyd has experienced similar situations with Lancashire often enough and hammered 70 off 45 balls (11x4s, 1x6), sharing a second wicket stand of 110 with David Snellgrove, who made 62 (8x4s). John Hitchmough's quickfire 37 from 26 balls (4x4s, 2x6s) proved a key knock as the home side picked up the three runs needed in the final over.

However, Bootle's title rivals were also winning, with leaders Northern stretching the lead over them to 30 points with victory by 11 runs at Lytham where 70s rock star, David Essex, was a spectator. Essex, who was between rehearsals for his 'Boogie Nights 2' show at Winter Gardens said he'd been driving along the road, saw a cricket match and stopped off, having a chat with Northern's scorer, Alan Majewska, who recognised him instantly. Needless to say, the star's autograph ended up in the scorebook.

Carl Hey's 72 proved crucial for the visitors in their 188-9d (55 overs) after winning the toss. He shared a stand of 104 for the fifth wicket with Stephen Cole (31), while skipper Marcus Sharp (5-75) and Jimmy Wisniewski (3-43) were the pick of the home attack. Lytham ran them close with 177 all out, Wisniewski top scoring with 52 but Steve Parry maintained his good form with 5-31.

On a Rake Lane ground where 500 runs were scored last week for the loss of only three wickets, New Brighton made hard work of beating Huyton after putting them in and dismissing them for 104 from 36.2 overs. Martyn Evans (3-30) and Paul Watson, making a rare appearance with 4.2-2-2-4, helped skittle the visitors, who lost their last five wickets for 29 (Carl Menzie 40). Mike Lewis (3-36) made the Wirral side struggle, but skipper Mark Burns saw them home by two wickets with 56 at 105-8 from 37.5 overs.

Hightown's run of four defeats in five matches has plunged them back into the relegation zone after being outplayed by Sefton Park.

The home batting had failed to overcome fine bowling from Bruce Neary (5-25) as they succumbed for 148 after 38.2 overs, with only Mark Warren (41) and captain Ian Sutcliffe (34) putting up much resistance.

Ben Moore made the most of a 'life' in the second over (he was dropped off a skier by wicket keeper Martin Stoker from Nathan Heathcliff-Core's bowling) to hit 51 as Sefton Park (Paul Horton 45) hammered Hightown by eight wickets with 151-2 after 29.5 overs. 

Bottom club Northop Hall's future in the ECB Premier League looks grim as they slumped to their fourth successive defeat at home to Wallasey and are now 22 pts behind Hightown.

Goolam Bodi scored 77 out of an opening partnership of 90 before losing his wicket, but then Northop Hall lost their way through Chris Bourne (4-60) and David Miles (3-42) as they managed a score of 192 after 60.1 long overs.

The Wirral side slipped to 51-3, but that didn't inhibit them from reaching the target for the loss of seven wickets with 193-7 (38.2 overs). Ritchie Conlan (45*) guided them home to a three wicket win after John Pugh (35) and Craig Prince (33) had batted well.

Saqlain Mushtaq's début for Fleetwood Hesketh had been much heralded and he did not let them down as they recorded their second successive win to lift them out of the danger zone. The Pakistan off spinner, replacing countryman Mohammad Sami who had to return home for a training camp, took 5-75 off 16 overs in his first competitive match for 13 months.

Leigh totalled 175 (54 overs) after winning the toss, mainly through Andy Batterley making 64 (8x4s, 1x6) while Peter Appleton provided fine support with 4-42.

The home side looked vulnerable at 54-4, but Colin Bridgewood (63*) put on 81 for the fifth wicket with Kevin Murray (27) and later added 43* with skipper Jon Bowden (28*) in a four wicket win at 179-6 (50.3 overs). Saqlain also contributed 20.

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