Wallasey unable to contain champions Firwood Bootle

Jun 4 2008 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

WALLASEY suffered a 49-run defeat at the hands of champions Firwood Bootle in the Liverpool Competition Premier Division last Saturday.

Bootle, who extended their lead at the top of the table, were in trouble at 38-4 after electing to bat but a stand of 92 between Adam Warren and skipper Ian Cockbain got them back on track.

Cockbain went for 51 but Warren was undefeated on 79 as Bootle declared on 190-6 off 49.2 overs at The Oval.

Wallasey's reply got off to a bad start as Ronnie Davis claimed two early wickets and Mark O'Connor (3-48) ripped out the middle order.

Stephen Parry mopped up the tail to finish with 4-26 as the hosts were dismissed for 141. Alex Eagles top-scored with 32.

New Brighton remain third after a comfortable 100-run victory at Prestatyn. The Wirral side opted to bat first and posted a daunting total of 289-5 off 50 overs.

Paul Hale led the way with an unbeaten 88 and shared a stand of 115 for the fourth wicket with Martyn Evans (68).

Ashraf Nawab then did the damage with the ball as he took 5-69 to dismiss Prestatyn for 189.

Elsewhere, Neston were involved in a dramatic level-scores draw at Alderley Edge in the tightest finish to Saturday’s ECB Premiership programme in the Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League.

Winning the toss, Neston posted 221, Byrom Cooper hitting 106 and Andy Clarke 33, while Jason Whittaker claimed 4-87 off 21 overs and Simon Marshall 3-38 against his former team-mates.

Whittaker top-scored with a key 65 not out, Mark Currie, 47, and Adam Wildigg, 39, as Alderley Edge clawed their way to parity off the last ball, Phil Stimpson 4-51. Alderley pocketed 18 points – to move back to the top of the table – and Neston 17.

Leaders Bowdon lost their first game by 89 runs at home to Hyde, whose skipper James Duffy slammed 134 out of a tally of 224-8. Bowdon were bowled out for 135, Carl Hey, 32, by Tom Young, 3-17, Danny Berry, 3-38, and Danny Woods 3-38.

Chester Boughton Hall recovered their form to beat Widnes by 33 runs at Filkins Lane after taking the maximum 60 overs to post 221-9, Warren Goodwin, 45, Danny Pascoe, 5-85.

Champions Oulton Park were outplayed at Toft where they claimed only nine draw points after Toft had declared on 226-8, Simon Hardstaff, 64, Andy Bones, 62, Nathan Dumelow, 5-83.

Apart from Danny Leech’s fine 90, the Oulton batting failed and they closed on 172-8, Aussie spinner Josh Bean taking 6-43.

Heaton Mersey recorded their first win since promotion by 38 runs at home to fellow strugglers Urmston.

Aussie all-rounder Brett McDonald was the match-winner, his 44 supporting 68 from Matt Norbury as Heaton Mersey reached 165. Urmston mustered only 127 in response, Colin Grindley, 30, with McDonald completing a good day with 6-32.

Meanwhile, Birkenhead Park secured their first league win of the season against Poynton on Saturday.

Park were asked to field and bowled out the visitors for 122. G Vignesh getting for 4 for 27, who was supported by C Foran 2 for 14 and M Shaw 2 for 24.

Birkenhead were 80 for 1 at one point before a middle order collapse saw them at 115 for 7.

They eventually secured the win with two wickets remaining G Vignesh got 67 and Ian Platt was 23 not out.