It was a day of frustration for Orrell’s first team as they made the trip to Rainhill in what was a game both teams needed to try and win.
Captain Sam Heeley won the toss and chose to bat first in batting friendly conditions on a warm day. This decision was vindicated as openers Ammer Mirza and Andy Baybutt got off to a freeflowing start against the Rainhill pace attack. Such was the strong start that Orrell made, that the hosts soon made bowling changes, which slowed the scoring rate to an extent. Baybutt was first out when he played a little carelessly at a full ball and was caught at mid-off for 30 to leave the score 69-1. Mirza kicked on from his recent signs of returning form as he brought up his half century before being caught in the slips for 58 to make the score 101-2. There was then a slight lull in proceedings as both Richard Everett and Mark Waddington sought to build their innings. Waddington then sprung into life with a series of savage blows against Rainhill’s overseas spinner, Imliwati Lemtur. However, just as he looked to go on and make a substantial score, he was caught in the slips for 27 to make the score 140-3. The incoming Matthew Wareing maintained Waddington’s attack on the home spinners until he was stumped for a quickfire 20. When Tom Jones was bowled soon afterwards, the Orrell innings was potentially creaking at 173-5. Everett however remained implacable and found support from Heeley. Maximum batting points were brought up in the 55th over but, conscious of the destructive batting of Tyler McGalddery, as well as the fact that the hosts had bowled their overs quickly, Heeley decided to bat on and declare on 247-5 from 60 overs. Heeley finishing unbeaten on 30 and Everett showed his class as he made an unflustered, unbeaten 66.
As expected McGladdery came out of the blocks fast at the start of the Rainhill reply and unleashed a number of shots that were as good as anything you will see at this level of cricket. Orrell opening bowlers Heeley and Dominic Hayes showed great resilience and skill in the face of this onslaught. Having had one strong LBW appeal against Rainhill opener, Mike Rotherham, turned down, Hayes eventually struck to dismiss Rotherham for 9 to make the score 57-1. When Hayes had to come out of the attack after 7 overs due to ECB Bowling directives around fast bowlers, Heeley switched ends and Dileepa Jayalath came into the attack. Jayalath continued his improved understanding of how to bowl in English conditions in the timed cricket format and a pivotal moment in the match happened when McGladdery sought to go over the top and was dismissed for 49 via a stunning catch from Terry Leaford to make the score 71-2. Home skipper Ben Edmundson was soon subject to an excellent catch by Waddington off the bowling of Heeley and, at 89-3, the Orrell bowlers had wrested back some control of the game. When Jayalath struck twice more to leave the hosts 100-5, they decided to batten down the hatches and salvage a draw. Try as they might, the Orrell attack could not make significant inroads into this resistance on a placid pitch and the hosts finished 153-6 from 46 overs- eschewing the chance to gain an extra batting point at 160 in the process. Jayalath was the pick of the bowlers with 4-37 whilst both Heeley and Hayes with a wicket apiece will bowl worse than this and get more wickets. A result that maintains Orrell’s unbeaten run but a result that doesn’t serve the needs of either team given their league positions.
Also on Saturday, Steve Unsworth’s second team welcomed Northern to Winstanley Road. Winning the toss and choosing to bat, the home team made 221-5 declared from 45 overs. The returning Ben Mahoney making a top scoring 87 whilst David Cheetham (32) and Dave Whiteley (52) also made important contributions. In reply, the visitors made little attempt from 3 wickets down to chase the required total and they finished on 139-5 from 43 overs as the match petered out to a draw. There was a wicket apiece for Gareth Houghton, Matthew Kirby, David Cheetham and Logan Pallett.
Alan Moore’s third team made the trip to Bootle on Saturday and came away with a resounding victory. Batting first, Orrell made 186-0 declared in only 31.2 overs on the back of an unbeaten 100 from George Mushahwar and an unbeaten 72 from Arthur Moore. The Orrell bowling attack made light work of the Bootle batting line up as they were dismissed for only 63 in 26.2 overs. The skipper led with the way with 5-38 and was ably assisted by Thomas Wilkinson (3-2 from 5 overs) and Harrison Hurst (2-9).
There was one Sunday game as combined Orrell 3rd/4th team made the trip to Fleetwood Hesketh under the guidance of Mark Crumpton. The hosts won the toss and chose to bat first. They were dismissed for 165 in 39.3 overs with James Edgington getting his first senior five wicket haul with figures of 5-20 from his 8 overs. George Berry (1-43) Arthur Moore (2-26) and James Such (1-15) were also in the wickets.
After losing an early wicket, Crumpton steadied the Orrell reply. Two quick wickets to make the score 56-3 threatened to derail the Orrell victory charge but crucially the skipper was still at the crease. However, when Crumpton was dismissed for an outstanding 68 with the score on 129-5, there was still some work to do for a young Orrell lower middle order and tail. Things looked to be going horribly wrong as they crashed to 144-8 until James Leyland stepped into the breach and hit a series of fours to take his team to the brink of victory. However, with 4 needed for victory, he was run out for 17. With the last wicket pair of George Berry and David Haslam at the crease, the home team scented victory. They had, however, reckoned without Berry, as he hit a one bounce four to give Crumpton’s team victory by one wicket with 15 balls left. A truly nail-biting game. Great credit must go to Crumpton for not only his own performance but also how he led such a young team in such a close game.