New Brighton maintain chase of Prem league leaders Bootle

Aug 20 2008 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

New Brighton maintain chase of Prem league leaders Bootle

NEW Brighton kept up their pursuit of Liverpool Competition Premier League leaders Bootle with a 19-run win at home to Lytham.

Martyn Evans led the way with an unbeaten 69 as they posted 191-7 declared off 50.5 overs, while Charitha Buddhika Fernando (35) and Matthew Thompson (32) also made key contributions.

Guydo Van Roberts gave Lytham hope with 75 not out but Evans completed a fine all-round display with 4-41 and Nazim Mohammed took 3-46 to clinch victory for New Brighton.

Wallasey remain just above the drop zone after losing a thriller at Colwyn Bay by three wickets.

Bay duo Paul Jenkins (5-44) and Debasis Mohanty (3-26) restricted the visitors to 143 all out, but the Wirral outfit produced a gutsy fightback in the field.

Mark Wilkie bagged three wickets and there were two apiece for Chris Bourne and John Murphy as the Welshmen were reduced to 64-7.

But Mitchell van Wyk (62no) and Jenkins (51no) put on 83 for the eighth wicket to see Bay home.

The other Premier Division clash between mid-table sides Hightown and Prestatyn ended in stalemate.

Anthony Symondson (3-25) and Ian Sutcliffe (3-55) limited Prestatyn to 192-9 in 54.3 overs but in reply Hightown struggled to 74-7 in 31 overs. Gareth Glynne-Jones remained undefeated on 29.

Meanwhile, Neston gifted opponents Alderley Edge the chance to claim their first ever ECB Premier League title in The Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League, when the Wirral side were beaten by five-wickets and former Lancashire batsman Mark Currie scored 84.

Neston were dismissed for 157 (Stan Clifford 59) and Alderley hit off the runs inside 30 overs thanks to Currie’s rich strokeplay – although not before Neston’s left-arm spinner Paul Stimpson had his moments with a 4-52 return.

Bowdon remain second, still 33 points behind with only four games remaining, following a four-wickets win at Hyde, where their former Birmingham League player Richard Wilkinson was the all-round star.

Wilkinson took 3-18 to help bowl out Hyde for 151 (James Duffy 53, Rob Woolley 39), then top-scored with 50, partnered by Antony Crozier 43 not out, as Bowdon closed on 154-6, Danny Woods 3-56.