Written by Gary Hayes
POOR WEATHER INTERVENES AGAIN
The very poor weather, in what is one of the wettest Augusts for many a year, severely curtailed Orrell’s cricketing activity once again this weekend.
On Saturday, Sam Heeley’s first team were away at Ormskirk who would surely have had one eye on the Lancashire knockout cup final at Old Trafford the following day. After an extensive mopping up operation, play did eventually get underway 100 minutes late. The hosts won the toss and elected to bowl first in what looked to be bowler friendly conditions. It soon became apparent that as well as conditions conducive to seam and swing movement, one end of the wicket was showing significant variable bounce with a number of balls popping off a full-length over the batter’s shoulder. Batting was not easy out there and Orrell did well to reach 45-3 from 15.4 overs when rain stopped play- the umpires deciding to take an early tea. Unfortunately, that was the end of the days play and the captain shook hands on an abandonment when it became clear that, after a further mopping up operation, the time left in the days play would not be sufficient for both teams to pursue a positive result within the time cricket format. Richard Everett top scored for Orrell with 21.
On Saturday, Dave Whiteley’s second team saw their home match against Ormskirk in the reverse fixture abandoned before play started due to the wet conditions. Alan Moore’s third team had a free week and were not scheduled to play game anyway.
Rain intervened again on Sunday when Mark Crumpton’s fourth team saw their match away at Newton cancelled before a ball was bowled.
There was however play on Sunday back at Winstanley Road when a much changed second team (weakened due to unavailability again and deprived also of their captain Dave Whiteley who was playing in a national semi-final for Lancashire over 50s) welcomed table topping Wallasey. A few weeks ago this could well have been a title decider but the recent poor form of Whiteley’s team has seen Wallasey develop a significant gap at the top.
The visitors won the toss and wisely chose to bowl first in the damp conditions. They made easy work of dismissing Orrell for a paltry 89 in only 36.5 overs with no real significant contributions from the Orrell batters. They then cantered to a seven wicket victory in only 24.1 overs to further strengthen their clear position at the top of the league. George Mushahwar took 1-32 from six overs, Terry Leaford 1-10 from five overs and Alfie Clarke 1-16 from 6.1 overs.
Whiteley’s team remain second in the league but their recent poor form is a worry.