By Gary Hayes
DOUBLE SUCCESS FOR ORRELL
After a blank weekend due to Covid-19 issues, Orrell’s senior teams resumed matches with a double success. With no first or third team game, it was left to Dave Whiteley’s second team to fly the flag on Saturday when they hosted Bootle CC. Heavy overnight and morning rain put the match in doubt but the Winstanley Road ground recovered remarkably well and the game was able to take place. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Orrell made 199-9 declared from 45 overs. Stuart Craig (43) and Ben Mahoney (42) made the most significant contributions and the captain himself (24) Steve Unsworth (26) as well as Terry Leaford (26) also chipped in.
In reply, at first 66-2 from 20 overs and then 125-5 with 10 overs left, it looked like the visitors were putting themselves in a position to go for the victory. However, Gareth Houghton had other ideas as Bootle were bowled out for 161 in 42.3 overs. Houghton finished with figures of 6-44 , Phil Taberner (1-45) and George Mushahwar (2-35)
On Sunday, Mark Crumpton’s fourth team (under the temporary captaincy of George Mushahwar) visited Wavertree Cricket Club. The hosts won the toss and elected to bat but was soon under pressure as the opening bowling pair of Terry Leaford (1-6 from 7 overs) and Dominic Hayes (2-5 from 6 overs) exerted heavy pressure. Having set the scene, Leaford and Hayes saw the other bowlers carry on their good work as the hosts were eventually bowled out for 62 in 40.3 overs. Declan O’Shaughnessy finished with figures of 2-15, Logan Pallett (3-8) Alix Allcock (1-5) and Arthur Moore (1-0). In reply, Orrell cruised to a seven-wicket victory in just 13.5 overs. The captain leading the way with an unbeaten 33.
On Monday evening, Sam Heeley’s T20 team qualified for the Wigan area finals when they beat Chorley CC at Winstanley Road. When the visitors the toss and elected to bat, it was clear for all to see that Orrell needed to take the wicket of Chorley’s IPL star Siddhesh Lad. Tom Jones duly obliged courtesy of a fantastic catch in the deep from Ammer Mirza. An excellent bowling and fielding performance from the hosts restricted Chorley to 103-9 in their 20 overs. Heeley was the best of the bowlers with figures of 5-15 well supported by Dominic Hayes (2-14) Tom Jones (1-22) and Duvindu Tillakaratne who, although wicketless, produced a miserly four over spell.
In reply, Orrell found themselves in real trouble at 57 -5 through a mixture of impressive bowling from the visitors and poor game management from the Orrell top order- too many dot balls which then led to rash shots. When all looked lost, the captain, ably supported by Ben Mahoney, saved the day. Mahoney (15 not out) was happy to play a supporting role to his captain who displayed impressive cricket acumen through a mixture of effective running between the wickets and innovative T20 style shot selection. The captain bringing Orrell home to a one wicket victory with one ball to spare as he finished unbeaten on 36 from only 21 balls. The finals day should have been this Sunday 11th July but has been postponed until a later date.