All the latest from the Liverpool Competition Cricket League

Aug 12 2009 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

SECOND placed New Brighton, who are 66 points adrift of Bootle, inflicted a crushing 106-run defeat on Hightown at Rake Lane in the Liverpool Competition Premier Division.

Alex Roberts hit 84 not out and Paul Hale was unbeaten on 40 as New Brighton declared on 221-3 off 52 overs.

Hightown lost early wickets in reply and were dismissed for 115. Martyn Evans claimed 5-35 and there were two wickets each for Mark Hale and Lawrence Wilson.

Wallasey slipped to a comprehensive six-wicket defeat at Lytham.

After being put into bat the Wirral outfit struggled from the start and never recovered from being 16-3.

Alex Eagles top scored with 24 as Wallasey were all out for just 102. Marcus Sharp claimed 5-36 and Joseph Davies bagged 3-25.

Lytham reached their target off just 24.4 overs with skipper Jimmy Wisniewski unbeaten on 61.

Northern provided a major boost to their survival hopes with a 38-run victory at fellow strugglers Formby in the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition Premier League.

Jan Gadzina was the Crosby club's hero as he claimed 6-43, including four wickets in one over, to help dismiss Formby for 207 inside 43 overs.

Opener Justin Waller struck 89 but he received little support. Formby were 116-6 before Jon Taylor (33) and Charles Gallagher (30) added some respectability to the total.

Northern had earlier posted a commanding 245-5 declared off 54 overs thanks to John Wildman (58), Jack Boardman (67no) and Paul Park (49no). Taylor (3-42) was the pick of the Formby attack.

It was Northern's first win in six league games and only their fourth of the campaign.

They remain bottom but just nine points separate the bottom five clubs.

Southport & Birkdale slipped closer to the drop zone after a five-wicket defeat at home to lowly Newton le Willows.

Ashton May (44) and Mark Fletcher (40) were the main contributors in Southport's total of 209 all out off 64.5 overs.

May claimed 3-41 in reply but it wasn't enough and Newton wrapped up victory in the 46th over thanks to Ian Lyon (64), Aaron Scott (41) and Chris Chambers (34no).

Leaders Bootle are a step closer to claiming the title after a 77-run victory at Northop Hall.

Skipper David Snellgrove led from the front with an unbeaten 103 in Bootle's 250-3 declared off 45.2 overs. There were also key contributions from Craig Prince (42) and Jack Kelliher (30).

Ronnie Davis then took 4-35 as Hall were bowled out for 173 off 49.3 overs

Ormskirk bounced back from their National Club Championship exit as they secured a seventh successive league win at the expense of visitors Prestatyn

The third placed hosts were indebted to an unbroken second wicket stand of 212 between Matthew Glayzer (110no) and Mathew Morgan (100no).

They raced to 236-1 declared off 42 overs and then the Welshmen were dismissed for 145.

Nicky Caunce (4-33) and Phil Armstrong (4-56) did the damage.

First Division

ORRELL Red Triangle held on to top spot with a four-wicket win over relegation threatened Skelmersdale.

Skem opted to bat but they had no answer to Zahoor Elahi (5-16) and Andrew Mercer (4-32) and were all out for 126.

Orrell took 40.4 overs to reach their modest target with Andrew Mottram hitting 31.

Wigan are second, 10 points behind Orrell, after beating bottom club St Helens Recs by 54 runs.

Andy Ford top scored with 50 in Wigan's 205 all out as Steve Garvey took 4-53.

Recs slipped to 47-5 and despite a brief revival sparked by Garvey (52no) they finished well short.

Suwanji Madanayake (4-73), Matthew Leah (3-15) and Mark Shorrocks (3-37) did the damage.

Sefton Park moved into the top six with a 31-run home victory over struggling St Helens.

In a low scoring match Sefton could only post 147 after opting to bat. They were 63-0 but collapsed after the departure of openers Chris Bellis (27) and Sean Vandome (32). Adam Friar finished with 7-51.

St Helens were under pressure from the start in reply and wickets tumbled at regular intervals.

Only tailender James Davies (28no) impressed as David Baird (3-18) and Robbie Houghton (3-32) starred for Sefton. There were also two wickets apiece for Davd Finch and Phil Calrow.

Mike Farrell struck 118 as third placed Highfield beat Rainhill by six wickets.