New Brighton remain in title race with win over Ormskirk

Aug 6 2008 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

New Brighton remain in title race with win over Ormskirk

NEW Brighton’s hopes of staying in contention for the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition Premier League championship was largely dependent on them beating Ormskirk last Saturday.

But the Wirral side achieved their task with great authority. The visitors set a target of 180-9 declared (David Heyes 49, Buddhika Fernando 4-72, Ashraf Nawab 3-47), but it was insufficient.

Zahid Mohammed 65 (nine fours, one six) and Matthew Thompson (70 not out, 10 fours, two sixes) set the tone with an opening stand of 110. The latter and Paul Hale (32 not out) then added an unbroken 72 in a nine-wicket romp.

At the bottom end, Chris Bourne appears to have ended any hopes St Helens Recs had of surviving the drop.

The Wallasey all-rounder top scored with 47 in a total of 163 (Anthony Bullick 5-76, Mark Jenkins 3-24) in 55 overs. He then devastated the home reply with 5-13 as they were skittled for 85.

Meanwhile in the ECB Premier Division of The Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League, Neston had a virtual walkover against a disappointing Urmston at Parkgate, dismissing their visitors for 73. Chris Finegan 4-28, Lee Dixon 3-6, while Jack Smith claimed 48 and teenager Andy Murphy 28 as they won by 10 wickets in little more than an hour.

For the third time in as many weeks, Birkenhead Park could not secure a win despite a magnificent 90 from skipper Andy Gibson.

Park restricted Cheadlehulme to 190 for 6 from their 50 overs with excellent bowling from T Hunter 3 for 42 and A Gibson 1 for 11. Despite being 110 for 2 and 130 for 3 with T Hunter 32, and needing just 60 off 20 overs, they fell agonisingly two runs short, finishing at 188 for 9.