Written by Gary Hayes
BATTING WOES RESURFACE FOR ORRELL
Orrell’s first team contrived to lose a must win game against visitors Southport and Birkdale on Saturday. Having won the toss and elected to bat first on a scorching hot day at a picturesque Winstanley Road, the visitors must have been confident of posting a large total. However, when Duvindu Tillakaratne struck twice early to leave the visitors on 11-2, it looked like the decision to bat first would backfire. A crucial fourth wicket partnership of 72 between Dinuka Dilshan and league legend Dave Snellgrove steadied the ship for the visitors until they plummeted from 105-3 to 110-7 as Tillakaratne bowled in tandem with fellow slow left-armer Cameron Sharp. Some sensible batting from the visitors’ lower order saw Orrell struggle to take the final wickets within the time period they would have expected to. Southport and Birkdale were eventually all out for 149 in 58.5 overs. Tillakaratne finishing with the exceptional figures of 6-45 from 29.5 overs while Sharp took 3-35 from 15 overs.
On what looked a good batting track, the Orrell batting line up must have fancied their chances of reaching this total. After losing Andy Baybutt early in the reply, Ammer Mirza and Richard Everett looked to have things under control as the scoreboard moved along nicely. The whole complexion of the innings changed when 2 wickets were lost in two balls to leave the score 38-3. Everett was joined at the crease by Matthew Hayes and calm was restored to the Orrell run chase as they brought up a half-century partnership and it looked very much like an Orrell victory was the most likely outcome. Hayes was then unfortunately out for a well-made 23 when he was caught and bowled. Home captain Sam Heeley then came to the crease with Everett well set and the score moved beyond 100. The introduction of pace bowler Angus Galley by the visitors provided another twist to proceedings as he first had Heeley caught behind and then next ball Chris Riley was adjudged leg before wicket. At 114-6, Orrell very much needed someone to establish a partnership with Everett. Further disaster struck when Tillakaratne was adjudged to be run out from a direct hit when taking a single- a decision that baffled many onlookers. Everett then finally seemed to find a partner willing to hang around with him and take Orrell to the victory total when Dominic Hayes came to the crease. As the runs required for victory edged below 20 and less than three runs an over were required to victory, it should have been a routine job for the Orrell lower order to support Everett in achieving the victory target. However, rash shot selection and a little bit of bad luck saw Orrell crash to defeat by 10 runs with still around four overs of the day’s play left. Everett was left stranded on 70- an excellent innings from him and he deserved much more in terms of support from his batting partners.
This is a very disappointing loss for Heeley’s team and questions must be asked of the shot selection and application of several batters in failing to reach such an achievable target.
Also on Saturday, Dave Whiteley’s second team won by 21 runs away at New Brighton. Winning the toss and batting first, Orrell made 180 all out in 44.2 overs. This was on the back of 51 from Matthew Wareing, 24 from the captain himself, 21 from Alfie Clarke, 24 from Stuart Craig and 26 from David Cheetham. A real team effort from the Orrell batters. In reply, the home team looked to be very much in the hunt for victory but they reckoned without Alfie Clarke who then took figures of 7-36 from 13.4 overs to see Whiteley’s team to victory. Phil Taberner (1-24) Gareth Houghton (1-44) and James Leyland (1-20) were also in the wickets.
Also on Saturday, Alan Moore’s very young third team were beaten away at Formby. Formby batted first and were 118 all out in 38.2 overs. The skipper led the way with figures of 4-50 from 17 overs and was assisted by George Mushahwar (3-11) Joe Whiteley (2-20) and Arthur Moore (1-4). In reply, the Orrell batting line up were disappointingly blown away and were 57 all out in 26.5 overs.
On Sunday, Mark Crumpton’s fourth team were away at Liverpool. The hosts batted first and made 219 all out in 43.4 overs. Declan O’Shaughnessy was the best of the bowlers with figures of 4-27 from 6 overs, Arthur Moore 2-31, George Mushahwar (2-33) and Joe Whiteley (1-21). Orrell won a thrilling game off the last ball of the game on the back of half centuries from Logan Pallett (61), Terry Leaford (64) and 39 from the skipper himself. Declan O’Shaughnessy hitting the winning run off the last ball of the game.
Also on Sunday, Matthew Hayes and his fourth team welcomed Ainsdale to Winstanley Road. The visitors won the toss and chose to bat first on another very hot day. Despite this, the Orrell opening bowling pair of Harrison Hurst (1-4) and Alfie Berry (3-10) had the visitors in trouble 9-4 early in their innings. The visitors did recover to an extent and managed to post 139 all out in 39.5 overs. Alfie Clarke (2-30) Tom Wilkinson (1-25) and the captain himself (2-60) also contributed.
In reply, only Ben Connor (16) from the Orrell top order made a significant contribution and they found themselves in a spot of bother 46-4. A fifth wicket partnership between Garry Wilkinson and Dominic Hayes then saw the scoreboard start to tick over more rapidly until Hayes was unlucky to deflect a sweep shot onto his leg stump when on 28. Wilkinson meanwhile held the innings together and brought up a well-deserved half-century. He was joined at the crease by the skipper and they saw Orrell to a four wicket victory with over 20 overs of the day’s play left. Wilkinson finishing unbeaten on 66.