Teen Eagles soars to rescue of Wallasey against Colwyn

May 28 2008 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

FIFTEEN-year-old cricket sensation Alex Eagles led a Wallasey recovery from 75-5 with a fighting 43 not out to earn a four-wicket success over Colwyn Bay in the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition Premier League.

Last Saturday, Bay set a target of 174 (49.3 overs) with Huw Roberts top scoring (69) for the bottom club, while John Murphy (3-32) and Eagles (2-14) impressed.

New Brighton moved into the top half of the table with a fine victory at Lytham. The Wirral side totalled 198-9 declared (55), despite an excellent spell from Marcus Sharp that yielded 7-44 off 27 overs.

Charitha Fernando (54 not out) and Matthew Thompson (40) top scored. The home reply failed to inspire against Nazim Mohammed (3-43), Ashraf Nawab (3-32) and Fernando (3-28) and fell short on 131.

Meanwhile in the ECB Premier Division of The Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League, Neston slammed 326-4 on the ground of champions Oulton Park but had to be content with a 15-8 points draw.

Aussie Jack Smith scored a scorching 150 – the highest score in a competitive match for Neston since DDL Little hit 147 not out against Ormskirk in a Liverpool Competition match in 1948.

On Monday in the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition Premier League, the Wirral derby had a century hero in Matthew Thompson.

He put on a stand of 170 for the second wicket with Paul Hale (89) as New Brighton set an impressive 248-4 declared (45) after deciding to bat against Wallasey. The visitors were never in the hunt, Alex Eagles making 41 out of 153, with Martyn Evans starring with 5-27.

In the Bromborough Paints Merseyside and Southport Alliance, Birkenhead St Mary’s crashed to their first defeat at home to Norley Hall. The margin was 159 runs with Hammad Tariq making 67 for the winners.

Caldy shocked Parkfield Liscard with an eight wickets victory. Grant Hughes registered a fine unbeaten 118 for the combined side but Anthony Sams 143 not out and Haroon Khan 88 not out saw Caldy comfortably home.

Khuran Shazzard included 14 fours and four sixes in his 112 not out for Rainhill who had 107 runs to spare at Tranmere Vics. Shazzard also claimed 4-23 whilst Ben Edmondson contributed 48. Upton are enjoying a successful season in the First Division of The Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League with near-veteran Gary Dixon putting his faith in – and being rewarded by – a bunch of talented youngsters.

The Old Greasby Road team won their fourth game to go third in the table when they beat Bramhall in an unusually low-scoring game. Upton could only muster 129, of which Aussie Adam Watson scored 29, their batsmen being all at sea against the off-spin of Simon Wilkinson, 6-38.

Bramhall’s tea time reverie was disrupted when teenager Tommy McGuire claimed the scalps of the top six batsman, including Cheshire skipper Andy Hall for a duck in a return of 6-51. Ian Sharrock chipped in with 3-18 and Bramhall were bowled out for 119.

Oxton stayed top even though held to a draw for the third time in six games. Feature of their declared tally of 205-7 against Christleton was 103 by Mark Rowland. Christleton responded with 172-8, Rick Moore 43, Chris Stenhouse 4-76.

Newly-registered Overseas player Ganapathi Vignesh helped stiffen the Birkenhead Park batting in their home game against Timperley, contributing a stylish 45 to their 222-7, of which John Crofton hit an unbeaten 50. Timperley’s batting proved too strong, however and they won by eight wickets with as fine 123 from left-hander Tom Twiney.