3rd XI SEASON ROUND UP (UP TO 31st MAY)
Date: 19th June 2015
SEFTON PARK and HIGHFIELD lead the way in the two Premier Divisions
Leading the table in the Third XI Saturday premier division are Sefton Park 3 followed closely by Northern 4 with Merseyside Cricket and Cultural Club in third place, who were week 6 main movers after none of the top four sides managed a win. Northern 3 fell one run behind in their drawn game with Goodlass apparently losing a wicket off the last ball searching for the winning two.
Sefton Park's bowlers have been in command with Fretwell taking 4/5 as Ormskirk were dismissed cheaply, Tin Grey taking a total of 11 wickets in the wins over Wallasey and Birkenhead Park and Mitchell also claiming 5 in a game. Their batsmen are not be outdone with Michael Row (101 no) and Tollady with 70 after coming in at number 9. Matthew Hints of Liverpool also reached three figures with the best bowling returns coming from Vincent (7/28) for MCCC and Edwards (Liverpool) 7/58 with Storey and Jones each claiming six. Birkenhead Park 4 and Maghull 3 have work to do to escape the relegation spots.
Bootle 3rd are aiming to bounce back into the Premier and lead the way in the Saturday First Division with a nine point advantage over Birchfield Park (each club having won 5 of the six games) although New Brighton in third place have a game in hand. Joe Nagle with 102 for the leaders in their comfortable win against Northern and Sathasivam had collected 11 wkts so far (including 5/18). Six wickets in an innings taken by Callum Newall of Alder (6/40), Patrick Nicklin (Birchfield) 6/42, John Fleming (Liverpool) 6/18. Sefton Park 5 and Wavertree continue to await their first onfield victory. Maghull amazingly managed to defend the seemingly low total of 36 and won by 11 runs.
Sunday 3rd XI Premier is being led by Highfield, despite losing their last game to Lytham who moved into second place and are a narrow 2 points behind the leaders with just a further 3 points separating the next two teams. Highfield managed to defend a total of 95 thanks to Lavin taking 5/11 against Sefton Park. Lytham's Daniel Yates continued his early season form with 62 and a five wicket haul following his previous week's unbeaten 112 (in a stand of 176 with Kyle Macaulay) as Lytham look to close in on the top spot. Sefton Park and Formby are also keeping up the pressure. Other memorable performances during the month include Joe Noctor's 114 for Rainford against bottom side St Helens Town and Matthew Baines of Formby taking the season's best bowling return of 6/20.
In the Sunday North East division, there are new leaders as Fleetwood Hesketh took advantage of Newton le Willows draw with Rainford to over take them. Opener Alex Halsall has scored successive fifties in the last two weeks as his side set challenging targets which produced victories. There is a sizable gap of 35 points to third place Wigan. The division's best performance arguably came from 12 year old Ben Walkden who hit an amazing 100 not out in the draw with Rainhill and had his father at the non striker end when he reached this milestone. Richard Everett (ORT) also scored a 100 on the same day. Two players who missed out on reaching three figures were Neil Pike (Fleetwood) 95 no and Carl Guest (Ainsdale) who fell on 99. Best bowling came from “veteran” Bhautik Shukla (taking advantage of the rule change enabling him to play) with 6/8 and Kush Shah (Wigan) 6/43.
Newcomers Widnes lead the South West Division, They started their season off with an opening stand of 260 (Byrne 104 no, Daniel Wearden 156) and three consecutive victories before a resurgent Birkenhead St Marys (in second place) held them to a draw. Widnes lead by 7 points with Hightown St Mary's in third place. The season's highest score went to Jack Vale with 156 for Formby (who subsequently lost that game by default after he bowled after having bowled more than the permitted overs for the 1st XI the previous day). Bowlers are having a difficult time with just two (Jones of Prestatyn and Grierson of Old Xavs) managing to claim 5 wickets in an innings).
If any of your players (especially juniors) have made a significant or personal contributions in a 3rd XI game, please email the details and I will include the details in the next report
** June 14 Update –ALL CHANGE - Merseyside Cricket and Cultural replace Sefton Park at the head of the Saturday Premier division, Birchfield Park have replaced Bootle in Divison One, Southport have moved ahead of Highfield in the Sunday Premier, Newton Le Willows lead in the North East Division and Birkenhead St Marys take top spot in South West.
Note – There are still unsure players showing in some games played in May. A separate news post will be shown in the Play Cricket giving details.
Report by Rob Durand
Fixture Secretary 15th June
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