Written by Gary Hayes
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC TO THE FORE AS TILLAKARTANE BAMBOOZLES THE OPPOSITION IN PERFECT WEEKEND FOR ORRELL
Orrell’s first team went into their double header home match weekend knowing that it was vital to achieve a significant number of points over the two games in order to make their current league position less precarious.
They started on Saturday by welcoming neighbours Wigan to Winstanley Road. Having won the toss, captain Sam Heeley chose to bat on what was an overcast day with the promise of sun later. They did not get off to the best of starts when they lost opening bat Ammer Mirza cheaply to leave the score 4-1. Fellow opener Andrew Baybutt was joined by Richard Everett at the crease and they looked ready to form a significant second wicket partnership. Baybutt in particular looked to be in ominous form and seemed set for a large score. Disaster struck when the score was on 38, when Baybutt (29) was bowled by a rapid John Richardson delivery which kept low off the pitch- the only ball which misbehaved all day on what was an excellent cricket wicket. When Everett was out for a well-made 27- clean bowled by a textbook slow left-arm delivery from Wigan’s Vinay Choudhary that pitched on middle stump and hit the top of off stump- to make the score 72-4, all eyes were on Orrell’s middle and lower order to see if they could capitalise on the start made or whether Orrell would be bowled out for a low score as has happened too often this season. Pleasingly, the remaining Orrell batters made a contribution led by captain Sam Heeley. The skipper looked untroubled as he formed a series of partnerships. Chris Riley (33) in particular rolled back the years with a number of excellent shots all around the wicket. Scoring wasn’t particularly quick however and Heeley made a calculated decision to bat on past the 55 over mark (which meant losing the accrued batting bonus points) in order to post a large total. When Orrell came back out after tea, Heeley brought up his half-century and saw first Dominic Hayes and the Cameron Sharp join him in upping the scoring rate. Orrell eventually declared on 207-8 from 60 overs. The captain finishing unbeaten on 61- a true captain’s knock.
Orrell’s bowling and fielding performance got off to the best possible start when they took the key wicket of ex-New Zealand test batsman Aaron Redmond (caught behind by a full-length dive from wicket-keeper David Naylor off the bowling of the captain) to make the Wigan score 9-1. Whilst Heeley continue to probe at one end, Duvindu Tillakaratne provided another masterclass of slow left-arm bowling as he flummoxed a succession of Wigan batters with his guile to leave Wigan in trouble at 49-7. Former Orrell junior Joe Burrows did provide some big hitting resistance for Wigan until he eventually holed out to make the score 64-8. At this point, the experienced Wigan lower order decided to drop anchor and attempt to deny Orrell their victory. An impasse followed which was only broken when young legspinner Matthew Hayes was introduced into the attack and he had Jack Maddocks dismissed leg before wicket to make the score 72-9. The final Wigan pair of Mark Rowe and Adam Samouelle (with many years of experience between them and not your typical numbers 10 and 11) were determined to deny Orrell victory. Tillakaratne eventually dismissing Samouelle with 10 overs of the days play left as Wigan were all out 81. Tillakaratne finishing with the stunning figures of 7-24 from 18.3 overs- an exceptional performance. Heeley took 1-46 from 10 overs, Cameron Sharp 1-2 from seven overs and Hayes 1-6 from two overs.
On Sunday, Heeley’s team attempted to build on this success as they welcomed New Brighton to Winstanley Road for a rearranged league game. Having won the toss and chosen to bat first, Orrell looked to be in a good position despite a number of the top order getting starts but not going onto convert them into a large score. Indeed, when the hundred was brought up for the loss of only 4 wickets, Orrell looked well set to post a large score. However, disaster struck as they then lost three quick wickets to find themselves potentially teetering at 103-7. Crucially however for Orrell, Heeley had continued his fine form of the previous day and was still at the crease to steady proceedings. When he was joined out in the middle by David Naylor (with the score 125-8) they formed what proved to be the pivotal partnership of the match. Naylor showed the large appreciative crowd what a fine batter he remains as a 61 run ninth wicket partnership ensued- Naylor eventually out for an excellent 32. Heeley followed the same template as the previous day as he batted until the 60 over mark. Orrell declaring on 202-9 from 60 overs. Heeley capping a weekend to remember for himself by finishing unbeaten on 68- a combined unbeaten total of 129 runs for the weekend- after a couple years without a Premier League half century, just like buses, the captain saw two come in quick succession.
After the visitors got off to an aggressive start, Tillakaratne produced a carbon copy of his performance from the previous day as he ran through the New Brighton batting line up with impressive assistance from Tom Jones at the other end- Jones taking the key wicket of visiting captain Matthew Thompson with an unplayable delivery. New Brighton were eventually bowled out for 90 in 26.3 overs. The enchanting Tillakaratne taking 8-42 in 13.3 overs (a combined 15 wickets for 66 runs over the weekend for the Sri Lankan) and Jones taking 2-40 from 12 overs.
This was a much-needed weekend for the team. They will hopefully gain confidence from this and take this into upcoming matches. They are undoubtedly a much better team than some of their performances this season have shown.
It was also a flawless weekend for Dave Whiteley’s second team. On Saturday, they played away at nearby Newton Le Willows. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Whiteley’s, team through a series of mini partnerships, saw themselves at 91-5. There then followed an unbeaten sixth wicket partnership of 126 between Steve Unsworth and Alfie Clarke. Orrell eventually declared on 217-5 from only 40 overs. Unsworth finishing unbeaten with an outstanding contribution of 80 and Clarke finishing on 46 not out.
In reply, at various points in their innings, Newton looked to be capable of achieving their victory target. However, the Orrell bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals to stall their efforts. Newton were eventually bowled out for 193 in 47.5 overs. Clarke capping a fine all-round performance, befitting of his growing maturity as a cricketer, with figures of 4-47 whilst other bowlers were also in the wickets. Phil Taberner with figures of 3-56, George Mushahwar 1-18 and David Cheetham 2-14. This victory takes Whiteley’s team to 2nd in the table.
On Sunday, and keen to avoid a rude awakening at such an early time of the day, Whiteley’s team made the early morning trek up to Lytham to play a morning T20 cup match. The hosts made 154-6 from their 20 overs. Ben Mahoney was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-28 from 4 overs whilst David Cheetham (1-36) James Leyland (1-33) also took wickets. After Mahoney (33) had got the Orrell innings off to a flying start, the momentum dissipated until the captain (ably assisted by Luke Unsworth) decided to take control of matters. Whiteley finishing unbeaten on 44 as Orrell won by five wickets on the last ball of the match. A real captain’s contribution from Whiteley. Orrell are very lucky to have him fulfilling such a key role within the club’s cricketing structure.
Back on Saturday, Alan Moore’s very young third team emerged with great credit from a high scoring defeat away at Northern Cricket Club. The hosts batted first and amassed an impressive 218-1 declared in only 32 overs- Joe Whiteley taking the solitary wicket. Most predictions at this stage would have been for an easy Northern victory. However, the Orrell batters found the resolve that has been missing too many times this season. Orrell finishing just short on 203 all out in 55 overs on the back of 52 from Oliver Mahoney and 43 from Geof Burrows. Moore’s team must look to take this new found application and confidence when batting into future games.
Only one of Orrell’s Sunday teams was in action this weekend with Mark Crumpton’s team playing their ‘home’ game against South Liverpool at Haydock Cricket Club due to the first team game at home. Batting first, Crumpton’s team were bowled out for 152 in 42 overs. Garry Wilkinson with 36 and Harrison Hurst with 33 were the only significant contributors. South Liverpool made light work of the victory total as they won by five wickets in only 22.2 overs. Declan O’Shaughnessy finishing with 3-36 from six overs, Arthur Moore 1-26 and Alfie Berry 1-23. There was one other fixture in this last week as the first team lost in their Ray Digman Trophy (a t20 tie this year) away at Ormskirk on Thursday night. Batting first, Orrell made an inadequate 72 all out in 18.1 overs. Only Matthew Hayes with 22 and Gareth Houghton (13 not out) emerging with any credit from such a poor batting effort. Despite being 11-2 at one stage and looking to be on the ropes, Ormskirk sauntered to a 7 wicket victory with 6 overs to spare. Sam Heeley (1-7) Duvindu Tillakaratne (1-13) and Houghton (1-19) were the Orrell wicket takers. Heeley will hope that his T20 team can find their batting from for this weekends Wigan T20 Finals Day at Norley Hall CC on Sunday 1st August