Lytham have reclaimed top spot in the Liverpool Competition

Sep 8 2010 by James Pearce, Birkenhead News

THE race for the Bridging Finance Solutions Liverpool Competition Premier League crown took another dramatic twist as Lytham reclaimed top spot with two games to play.

Having hit the summit on the back of six successive league wins, Ormskirk’s title hopes suffered a major setback with an eight-wicket defeat at third placed New Brighton.

Lytham’s narrow 12-run win at Northern means they now boast a 19-point lead over Ormskirk with New Brighton a further five points back.

Guy Roberts (46) and Nick Knight (38) top scored in Lytham’s 185 all out off 49.4 overs at Moor Park as Michael Baer claimed 4-67.

Skipper James Cole (37) and Stephen Cole (41no) were the chief contributors in Northern’s run chase but they fell agonisingly short.

Marcus Sharp bowled unchanged throughout to finish with 6-61 from his marathon 31-over spell, while Jimmy Wisniewski chipped in with 3-76. Sharp cleaned up the tail as Northern lost their final wicket on the final ball of the 62nd over.

Ormskirk went into their game at New Brighton with a two-point lead at the top but they paid the price for a poor batting display. Skipper Ian Robinson struck 30 but his team-mates struggled as the visitors could only muster 111 off 39.3 overs after opting to bat.

Chinthaka Perera did most of the damage with 4-24 and Ashraf Nawab took 3-5 from his eight overs.

Matthew Thompson (29), David White (46no) and John While (28no) led New Brighton home inside 41 overs.

Wallasey’s relegation was confirmed after a two-wicket defeat at Newton le Willows.

Openers Kuran Makol (47) and Jack Leckey (35) gave Wallasey a solid start but from 110-2 they crashed to 186 all out inside 53 overs. Danny Barlow (4-68) and Aaron Scott (4-26) impressed for Newton.

Kurt Roughley (3-39) kept Wallasey in the hunt but after Mark Fearnley (58) and Barlow (40) put the hosts on course for victory, it was left to Newton skipper Mike Walkden (24no) to see his side home in the 53rd over.

JAMES PEARCE