It was a weekend of victories for Orrell’s senior teams with only the first team coming up short.
Sam Heeley’s first team welcomed table toppers Wallasey CC to Winstanley Road on Saturday looking to extend their unbeaten run in what would be their most difficult test yet.
Having won the toss, the visitors chose to bat with Durham second team player Jamie Crawley and Daniel Beaver (with 448 runs from only 7 innings) opening the batting.They soon showed why they had already achieved three century opening stands this season as they unleashed a number of boundary shots with Crawley being particularly brutal in this regard. The Orrell bowling effort wasn’t helped by Heeley only bowling three overs due to an injury.
In fairness to the Orrell bowlers, they were bowling well, and the fielding was maintaining a high standard. The home team showed great resilience as they looked to stay in the game with spin twins Dileepa Jayalath and Alfie Clarke wheeling away in tandem.Clarke secured the breakthrough when Beaver (just after moving past 500 runs for the season in only 8 innings) chipped the ball up to Andy Baybutt. Crawley soon followed when he was caught by Everett off the bowling Jayalath for 93. More wickets did fall after this as the visitors looked to secure maximum batting points. They eventually declared on 244-5 from 51.4 overs.Jayalath took 3-95 from 22.4 overs and Clarke 2-86 from 17 overs. Apart from a couple of dropped catches, this was a decent bowling and fielding display from the home team.
In reply, the visitors opened with pace from one end and the Slow Left Arm spin of league leading wicket taker Sumit Ruikar.Opener Ammer Mirza was soon dismissed with when he glanced a leg side ball to the Wallasey wicketkeeper. Whilst Andrew Baybutt (26) and Matthew Wareing (16) both got starts and scored quickly, they were both dismissed attempting one aggressive shot too many to leave the score 60-3.With only 14 overs gone but having already lost three wickets, Orrell knew it would be a tough task to chase down the total now especially on a day where a couple of their usual top 7 batters were missing. Everett continued his good recent form until the pressure of leading the chase without any of his other top 5 colleagues got to him and he holed out for a top scoring 28.Jayalath apart, the rest of the Orrell batting line up surrendered meekly in the face of admittedly excellent bowling.Orrell were eventually all out for 109 in 40.4 overs with a few batters needing to examine the shots played and their assessment of what constitutes a calculated risk when they have already secured an ample number of runs from an over.
A large defeat for Orrell as Wallasey showed their undoubted class in aspects of the game as well as their conduct around the whole game day.
On Thursday evening, Heeley’s T20 team made the trip to Wigan to play the second of their Wigan T20 matches.Having won the toss, Orrell made 143-8 in 20 overs with Richard Everett making the most meaningful contribution with 44.In reply, Dileepa Jayalath and Dominic Hayes, with two wickets apiece soon had the hosts in trouble at 21-4.Wigan didn’t really recover from that and were 111 all out in 18.3 overs. The young spin trio of Alfie Clarke (1 wicket) Logan Pallett (2 wickets) and Matthew Hayes (1 wicket) taking the rest of the wickets.
On Saturday, Steve Unsworth’s second team secured a needed victory away at Liverpool.Having won the toss and electing to bat, the hosts were all out for 126 in 39 overs. Phil Taberner showed a welcome return to his wicket taking best with 7-60 from 20 overs- a magnificent effort. James Edgington (1-22) and David Cheetham (2-20) were also in the wickets.Orrell cruised to an 8 wicket victory in only 36 overs with a large unbeaten partnership between Dave Whiteley (44) and the skipper himself (56) doing most of the leg work for the victory.A welcome victory for Unsworth and his team after a difficult run of results and a reward for the skipper’s impressive leadership during this period and at a time when he is hampered by a leg injury.
Alan Moore’s third team moved to third in the table with a comprehensive victory away at Wallasey. Orrell batted first and made 178-4 declared in only 34.1 overs. George Mushahwar continuing his recent fine form with a top scoring 79 whilst Ben Connor (25) and Ian Davies (29) also made significant contributions. The hosts were bowled out for 76 in only 20 overs. Gregg Lea (5-18) taking his maiden 5 wicket haul for the club with wickets for the rest of the bowlers used too- James Leyland with 1-12, George Berry 2-30 and Joe Whiteley 2-7.
On Sunday, Mark Crumpton and his 4th team entertained Leigh at Winstanley Road. The visitors won the toss and chose to bat first as they were bowled out for 154 in 33.4 overs.Alan Moore took 4-36, James Edgington 2-19, George Berry 1-33 and Thomas Wilkinson 2-21. Despite losing three early wickets, Crumpton’s middle order stood up to be counted as they won by 4 wickets with around 14 overs of the days play left. Zach Abbott (showing impressive ability for a 14-year-old to use his feet and his spinners over the top) top scored with 36. Ben Connor (20), Charlie Abbott (18), and Harrison Hurst (25), also all contributed to a strong middle order performance.
ORTCC 4TH AC V SOUTHPORT TRINITY MATCH REPORT
Written by Alfie Clarke
In Sunday’s other game, 4thAC team made the trip to Southport Trinity. The game was played on the reserve pitch, but the wicket still looked in great condition for both sides. Winning the toss and electing to bowl due to the depth of bowling, it was left to cousins Emily James and Georgia Warburton (the only female opening bowling partnership I have played with/against) to get the match underway. Warburton showed consistency and proved once again why she is in the Lancashire set up, and really challenged both openers early on. James also challenged the opening batters, but with a heavy tail wind blowing right across her, she had a very hard job to do. However, her bowling showed why she is the skippers’ go-to as she was once more very economical and did not seem to bowl a bad ball. Neither opener was rewarded for their toil, but the early pressure built by the pair was beyond evident. Both finished with economy rates under 3 and deserve huge amounts of credit.
One of Southport’s opening batters then looked in fine form, passing his half century relatively quickly, but the introduction of James Such saw the team’s first breakthrough. Such sticking to his plans and finding the edge of one of the openers and then following on with another wicket maiden, saw Orrell fight back – it was really good, controlled swing bowling. Tom Turner also bowled very well considering his age and who he was up against. He showed great courage to bowl as he did to an experienced opening batter who did not look like getting out. Turner, despite not being in the wickets this week, bowled exceptionally and really did deserve a reward for his hard work – with the “worlds plumbest LBW” not being given – the heads of many others would have gone down, but his chin was held high and he was still charging in.
The introduction of young Tom Capstick really got Orrell’s charge going. TC claiming the big wicket of the opener on 57, with Tom Such taking a solid catch under lots of pressure. Capstick bowled tidily and finished with figures of 1-18 off his 5 overs, with his first wicket in senior cricket being just reward for the spell that he bowled. It was then left to young SLA bowler Charlie Sarath to have a go at carrying on the charge. Despite his first few overs not being his best, he quickly responded and showed great control and consistency for such a young bowler and finished with figures of 4-45 off his 12 overs. He really did deserve 5 wickets, clear stumpings and LBW decisions not being given robbed him off his 5fer but in typically charlie boy fashion, he came off with a smile on his face and tilted the game into Orrell’s favour. It must be also added that James Hine took a potential catch of the year to give Tom Such his first wicket. A one-handed pluck at extra cover by Hine really showed how well 4th AC’s fielding has come on in recent weeks. Finally, Tom Such and Geof burrows took the final wickets to leave Orrell chasing 171 and after a couple of periods off the field for rain, it was unsure just how many overs we would have to chase down the target. Charlie Sarath the pick of the bowlers, but all played their role and chipped in. It was great to see everyone get a bowl and bowl as well as they did – an almost faultless first innings.
In response, openers Tom Such and George Mushahwar got us off to a very steady start. The in-form Mushahwar put away bad balls with ease and found gaps with good balls, a credit to his hard work in the off season. Such also played well, finding the boundary a few times before a minor lapse in concentration saw him be adjourned LBW. It was then for the two seniors in the team to build a nice and ‘tidy’ partnership. Geof Burrows and Mushahwar kept the score ticking, with boundaries and some “quick” singles. Burrows making 26 in good time before being dropped and then being bowled the very next ball could have seen a collapse, and after James Hine unlikely chopped on to his stumps after trying to cash in on a wide delivery, it seemed that Mushahwar needed to make the innings his own. And that he did. Passing 50 with some fine strokes behind square and some slashing shots over midwicket – he really looked on. At the other end, Charlie Sarath’s day got even better. A young and nervous batsman walking out to face quicker bowling than he is used to on bigger pitches did not matter. His defence was solid and kept the runs ticking. His skipper told him that his job was to be there at the end and support Mushahwar and he did that perfectly. Mushahwar quickly got to 65 and then really put his foot down. Punishing bowlers wherever they bowled and finding gaps that never really existed. With us needing only 26 and Mushahwar being 86*, the talking point was now the dark cloud overhead. With Mushahwar seeing this, he hurried along and after scoring 3 consecutive boundaries, he brought up his second 100 of the season. With a lovely cover drive to finish, Mushahwar finished on 105* and Sarath a courageous 16* to cap off a 90 run 4th wicket partnership.
4th AC grabbed 20 points, taking revenge on Southport Trinity, who beat us a few weeks ago. As skipper, it was a 10/10 performance from the team. From where the team were at the start of the season to where we are now, we look a whole different side. It fills me with great pride to lead this team out every week and appreciate the great times we have. Honours obviously go to Mushahwar and Sarath but from 1-11 today, everyone chipped in and did their job and contributed. It was really good to see many travelling spectators there too cheering the young side on. A great result for a very young team.