Caldy ease past Birkenhead St Mary’s in the Bridging Finance Solutions Second Division

Aug 24 2011 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

CALDY made light work of beating bottom club Birkenhead St Mary’s at home in the Bridging Finance Solutions Second Division.

Stuart Pilley starred with the ball, taking 6-27 as the visitors were bowled out for 173 in 36.1 overs, Sri Lankan Charlie Fernando top-scoring with 38.

Caldy, in fifth place in the league, reached their target for the loss of just three wickets in 29.4 overs, Alan Mellor making 74 and Andy Potter 42 not out.

In the game of the day, leaders Fleetwood Hesketh and third-placed Ainsdale battled out a tough stalemate.

Adnan Malik made 66 in Fleetwood’s 175 all out, Malcolm Swift taking an impressive 8-98 for the home side, but Ainsdale could only reach 132-8 in their reply, Steven Lucas making 48 and Malik helping himself to three wickets.

ŠBurscough were the main beneficiaries as they continued their push for promotion with a convincing win at home to Sutton.

ŠSutton were restricted to 147 all out, Dick Powell taking 5-41 and David Atherton taking 3-25, a total that didn’t trouble Burscough, who reached their target for the loss of just three wickets, Mike Cooney and Michael BimpsonŠ both making 44.

ŠAt Southport Trinity, 51-year-old Geoff Thornton rolled back the years to score an undefeated century (108 all out) to help his team reach 172-5 against Parkfield Liscard.

ŠJohn Morgan then took 4-67 as Parkfield Liscard were bowled out for 168 to fall just short of their target, despite Mike Keogh making 44.

ŠRuns for Adam Irwin (53) and Adam Friar (42) helped St Helens post 170 at home to Skelmersdale, whose skipper Ben Maddocks took 5-39 and Waqar Khan 3-19.

ŠMaddocks and Khan then took matters into their own hands with the bat as well, scoring 54 and 51 not out respectively as Skelmersdale overhauled St Helens’ target for the loss of five wickets.