Saturday of Success for Orrell
Written by Gary Hayes
Orrell’s first team secured their first win of the season with an impressive victory away at Southport and Birkdale cricket club. Having lost the toss and been asked to bowl first by the hosts, the first few overs did not go well and the hosts got off to a flyer- it looked at one stage as if it would be a long afternoon in the field for Sam Heeley’s team. However, the team stuck to their task admirably and Josh Fallows struck the first blow to make the score 41-1 via an excellent catch from Tom Jones who dislocated a finger in the process but bravely carried on after a short medical break.
Fallows struck twice more and Jones came to the party also with a wicket to leave the hosts 52-4 and the whole complexion of the game having turned up on its head. The hosts fifth wicket partnership seem to have steadied the ship for them but the introduction of 14 year old Dominic Hayes to bowl in tandem with Fallows allowed Orrell to make further inroads into the hosts batting line up- Hayes taking two wickets and Fallows taking a fourth wicket to leave the hosts floundering at 82-7. The introduction of Cameron Sharp into the Orrell attack saw him take two early wickets to leave the hosts 83-9. A spirited last wicket partnership from the hosts allied with some loose bowling saw the hosts bring up the hundred. However, the reintroduction of Jones into the attack saw him take care of matters and the Southport and Birkdale innings came to an end with the score on 103 from 35.2 overs. Fallows was the pick of the bowlers with 4-44 but there were also excellent contributions from Hayes (2-8) Jones (2-33) and Sharp (2-15).
Orrell opening batters Ammer Mirza and Matthew Hayes, knew that the hosts will come out all guns blazing and that they had a key role in dampening the enthusiasm of the whole team and ensuring an Orrell victory. They survived a hostile first few overs from a fired up home team and kept the scoreboard ticking along through both displaying a sound technique and good judgement of when to play and when to leave the ball. With the score on 44 and the hosts initial enthusiasm very much quietened, a mixup between the two batters saw Hayes run out for 17. When incoming batsmen Richard Everett was bowled for 3 trying to pull a ball that kept low, to make the score 59-2, it looked like there was a possibility of an Orrell wobble similar to what happened to the hosts in the first innings. However, Mirza and Andy Baybutt firmly shut the door on any prospects of a change in the momentum of the match. Mirza showing impeccable shot selection and Baybutt in imperious form scoring runs all around the wicket. Orrell strolled to an eight wicket victory in 25.2 overs. Mirza finishing unbeaten on 46 and Baybutt finishing unbeaten on 36. A very pleasing victory Sam Heeley and his team with the maximum 25 points secured and gives them confidence as they prepare for their Derby visit to neighbours Wigan next Saturday.
Meanwhile back at Winstanley Road, David Whiteley’s second team entertained New Brighton. Having won the toss and elected to field, Orrell had the visitors in trouble at 16-4. However, the visitors rallied impressively and a series of partnerships saw them declare on 188-8 from 47 overs. The wickets for the Orrell bowlers were shared around equally. Phil Taberner took 3-48, Gareth Houghton (2-58) David Cheetham (1-30) Alfie Clarke (1-7) and Ben Mahoney (1-17).
The Orrell reply did not get off to a good start as Ben Mahoney was adjudged LBW with the score on 14. Initial progress was slow and at, 34-2, victory seemed a long way off. However, a third wicket partnership of 102 between the captain and opening batter Matthew Wareing made an Orrell victory an increasing probability. Wareing in particular was scoring at a rapid rate with some large blows coming from his bat. Unfortunately, he holed out on 96 when a well-deserved century was close at hand. However, the captain remained at the crease until he was out with the score on 161-4 for a well made 26. It looked like this might be the precursor for an Orrell collapse as two quick wickets saw them teeter on 173-6. However, Steve Unsworth (26 not out) and David Cheetham (13 not out) saw the team home to a four wicket victory with just less than two overs to spare in the day’s play. A pleasing first win of the season for Whiteley’s team also.
Also on Saturday, Alan Moore’s third team played their first ‘home’ game of the season at Haydock CC against Formby CC. Having won the toss, the visitors elected to bat first and racked up 196-6 declared from 40 overs. 14-year-old James Leyland (1-17) and Oliver Lynn (2-25) were the pick of the Orrell bowlers. Despite looking like victory might be possible with Will Alker and Luke Unsworth at the crease, a young Orrell team were eventually bowled out for 164. Arthur Moore top scored with 34, whilst Alker (22) Unsworth (25) and Lynn (26) also made useful contributions.
On Sunday, Matthew Hayes fourth team containing 10 juniors and a 19 year old made the trip to Ainsdale Cricket Club. Having lost the toss, Orrell were asked to bat first against the more experienced home team. A third wicket partnership of 92 between 14-year-old James Hine (24) and Alfie Clarke (46) saw Orrell progress to 125-3 when Hine was the next batter to fall- a very pleasing innings from young James. Late innings knocks from Dominic Hayes (48) and Matthew Hayes (20 not out) saw Orrell declare on 214-6 from 45 overs.
This should have been a defendable total with the emphasis more upon whether Orrell could secure 10 wickets to secure victory. However, some erratic bowling from the young Orrell attack and fielding mistakes (understandable from such a young team) meant that the hosts were never really put under the pressure that they could have been and they were always near the required run rate with wickets in hand. The hosts securing a four wicket victory with one ball to spare. James Such took 1-26, the captain took 2-60, Clarke 2-70 and Alfie Berry 1-20. A very creditable performance from such a young team with key lessons to learn around ensuring the new ball is used to more effect and the importance of ground fielding and taking catches in order to win matches. Great credit must go to the captain and Alfie Clarke for how they supported such a young team throughout the match.
Orrell’s other Sunday fourth team led by Mark Crumpton lost at home to Liverpool CC. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat. Their innings came to an end on 189 all out in 40.1 overs. The wickets were shared around the Orrell bowling attack with George Mushahwar the pick with figures of 3-25. George Berry ended up with figures of 2-31, James Leyland (1-31) Alan Moore (1-26) Arthur Moore (2-40) and Declan O’Shaughnessy (1-35). With around 50 overs to be received in return, a target of 190 was not an unrealistic chase. However, the hosts were bowled out for 137 in 43.4 overs as a numbers of batsmen made starts and did not go on to convert this into a larger potentially match winning score.