Orrell’s first team kickstarted their season with victory over Newton-Le-Willows CC at Winstanley Road. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat in conditions that had been freshened up by the previous night’s rain.
The Orrell bowling attack was opened up by Dominic Hayes and captain Sam Heeley as they looked to make early inroads. A probing spell from both was rewarded when Hayes made the breakthrough, dismissing Lancashire second team player Ben Walkden to make the score 25-1, courtesy of a Matthew Wareing catch at backward point. When Hayes had to leave the attack due to ECB bowling regulations around young fast bowlers, Heeley swapped ends and Dileepa Jayalath came into the attack also.The Sri Lankan bowler showed that he was beginning to adapt to English conditions and the timed cricket format of the game as he consistently gave the ball more flight and produced more turn as a result. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as the visitors failed to establish a substantial partnership. The reintroduction of Hayes into the attack to replace Heeley, saw Newton dismissed for 116 in 43.4 overs. An excellent team effort from the three Orrell bowlers used.Jayalath finished with figures of 4-42 from 15.4 overs, Heeley had figures of 3-42 from 17 overs, whilst Hayes had figures of 3-28 from 11 overs. Special mention must also be made of the excellent slip catching of the returning Tom Jones.
Chasing such a small total can often prove tricky psychologically for batting teams. This proved to be no exception for Orrell on a wicket that was providing some assistance for the bowlers. An incisive opening spell from Newton’s young fast bowler Zac Donohue, saw Orrell 17-2 with Andy Baybutt and Richard Everett back in the pavilion. When Matthew Hayes was caught low down at mid-wicket from a leg glance to give Donohue his third wicket and leave the score 36-3, then the victory total started to look a long way away.A cameo of 22 from Matthew Wareing steadied the ship somewhat only for him to be caught behind chasing a wide delivery. Orrell desperately needed a partnership to develop if they were to achieve the victory that their bowlers had set up. This partnership came in the form of Heeley and Jayalath as both batters showed great application in a partnership of 49 before the Sri Lankan was dismissed for 24 with the score on 104-5. Crucially, Heeley remained implacable and, despite losing another wicket, Orrell secured a maximum 25 point victory by four wickets in 43.3 overs. Heeley crowning a fine all-round captain’s performance to finish unbeaten on 39.
Heeley’s team had also progressed to the next round of the National T20 cup on the Friday evening as their game against Rainford was settled on a bowl-out due to heavy rain making the Winstanley Road ground unplayable. Dileepa Jayalath, Terry Leaford and Dominic Hayes were the successful Orrell bowlers.
On Saturday, Steve Unsworth’s second team made the visit to Southport and Birkdale. Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the hosts made 204-5 declared in 45 overs. David Cheetham finished with figures of 3-42 from 8 overs and Phil Taberner took 1-20 from 9 overs. In reply, at 24-3, Orrell looked to be staring down the barrel of a gun.However, middle order resistance from Orrell’s young guns assisted by the skipper, meant that whilst the victory target was not really achievable, a draw was secured, as Orrell finished on 130-8 from 41 overs. The captain top scored with 30 but there were also key contributions from young guns Logan Pallett (25) and Oliver Mahoney (17) whilst James Leyland was obdurate in the final few overs.
Alan Moore’s third team were also in action on Saturday as they welcomed New Brighton to their temporary home base of Ormskirk CC. Having chosen to bat first, the visitors were bowled out for 90 in 41 overs. George Berry (3-17) and Tom Wilkinson (3-4) were the most successful bowlers whilst Arthur Moore (1-6) Harrison Hurst (1-11) and the skipper (2-36) were also in the wickets. Orrell openers, George Mushahwar and Mark Crumpton, made light work of the victory chase as Orrell secured a 10 wicket victory in only 18 overs. Crumpton finishing unbeaten on 32 whilst Mushahwar brought up a deserved unbeaten half century as the game reached its denouement.
On Sunday, Mark Crumpton’s team (missing a number of key players due to GCSE and A level exam revision) welcomed last year’s Sunday Premier League champions Southport and Birkdale to Winstanley Road. The visitors won the toss and chose to bat first- a decision that seemed to backfire as they were bowled out for 90 in 27.5 overs.This was achieved through a real team effort from the young Orrell bowling attack as Georg Berry took 4-46 (to make it 7 wickets over the weekend) James Edgington (2-7) Tom Wilkinson (2-18) Logan Pallett (1-9) and Joe Whiteley (1-9). In reply, despite a brilliant 40 from Logan Pallett (to cap a fine weekend with the bat), the missing batting in the Orrell ranks (due to exams) cost them dearly as they were bowled out for 87 in 39.1 overs. A case of so near yet so far for Crumpton and his team.
Also on Sunday, Alfie Clarke took a very young and inexperienced Sunday Development team up to Lytham to play a very strong home team bolstered by players returning from University. The hosts won the toss and chose to bat first.After a tight few overs from the young Orrell bowlers, the age gap between the two teams began to show as Lytham amassed 222-7 declared in only 37 overs. The lack of senior bowling options available to Clarke made it difficult from him to stem the flow of runs. James Such took 3-20, Georgia Warburton (2-22) Alfie Berry (1-34) and Charlie Sarath (1-35). In reply, the Orrell batters found the impressive home pace bowling attack a little quick for them as they were bowled out for only 53 in 19.4 overs.A difficult afternoon for Clarke and his young team as they walked into the perfect storm of a full-strength home team, call ups to the main Sunday team due to exam revision and the overall lack of adults available or willing to play on Sundays to assist with the experience level of the Sunday teams. What cannot be called into question, however, was the spirit and resilience of the young Orrell players and they must be commended for that.