Sam Heeley’s first team were frustrated in their efforts to secure victory after a dominant display away at neighbours Wigan.
Heeley’s men went into the game against their higher placed opponents needing to put last week’s defeat to table topping Wallasey behind them.When the hosts won the toss and chose to bowl, it was left to Orrell openers, Ammer Mirza and Andy Baybutt, to set the tone of the Orrell innings on what looked to be a good batting wicket. Both openers started in a positive fashion until Baybutt edged behind for 18 off the bowling of England Under 19 international Joshua Boyden, to make the score 33-1.Orrell’s man of the moment Richard Everett, then entered the fray hoping to continue his recent rich vein of form. Everett had a let off early when he was dropped and along with his batting partner Mirza (who had also been dropped early in his innings), they set about making the home side pay as they put on a second wicket partnership of 213 with a mixture of expansive shots, excellent shot placement and effective running between the wickets. Mirza was the first to bring up his century and then Everett followed a few minutes later. With maximum batting points in the bag, Heely declared on 246-1 after 55 overs. Mirza finishing unbeaten on 109 and Everett unbeaten on 105.
The Orrell bowling effort was opened by Heeley (recovered from his back spasms of the previous week) and Dominic Hayes. Both bowlers were making the batters play with regularity and both were rewarded with an early wicket each, to leave the score 20-2. When Hayes removed former New Zealand International Test batsman Aaron Redmond as the score reached 24-3, Orrell sensed victory. Crucially for the hosts, captain Charles Taylor was still at the crease and looked to be in the type of form that could have still seen the hosts mount an attempt at victory if he could form a partnership of substance. Jake Leyland looked to be capable of this partnership until he edged Heeley behind as the score reached 62-4. Despite Heeley maintaining attacking fields, at this point the hosts stopped chasing victory and the debate around the ground was to whether they would look to be positive to gain as many batting points as possible to maintain their high position in the table or prioritise denying Orrell the victory even though there was a clear points gap in the league table between the two teams. The Orrell bowling effort from Heeley and Dileepa Jayalath was consistent and, along with a run out, they continued to take wickets to leave the score 101-7. At this point, the debate around the home teams intentions was closed as they clearly looked to block out the remaining overs. Taylor gave one chance in this period when a high catch over Bayburt’s head just eluded his grasp. With only 6 overs left, Hayes was reintroduced with the hope that his extra pace could prise out the Wigan batters. This he duly did when he induced an edge behind to leave Orrell one wicket from victory.There was then a very large appeal for lbw from his next ball which was not given by the umpire.After this, the home batters blocked out the remaining balls to finish on 149-9 from 50 overs. Heeley finished with figures of 4-64 from 21 overs, Hayes 3-14 from 10 overs and Jayalath 1-63 from 19 overs.
An agonising end for Heeley and his team at the end of a game they were dominant in throughout. They will look back with regret at not implementing a faster over rate to ensure the hosts had to face more overs in the time allowed.They will however take confidence from outplaying a team who had been third in the table before this game.
Meanwhile, back at Winstanley Road, Steve Unsworth’s inexperienced second team fell to defeat against Birkenhead Park. The visitors batted first and made 190-6 declared from 43 overs. It has to be said that Orrell were the architects of their own downfall as the visitors’ large total was built around an opening batter who was dropped twice early in his innings. Phil Taberner had figures of 2-60, Gareth Houghton 1-57, Logan Pallett 2-31 and David Cheetham 1-13. In reply, Orrell crashed to 90 all out in 25.5 overs with only Oliver Mahoney (22) Cheetham (16) and Taberner (12) reaching double figures. A harsh lesson for the younger players in the Orrell team about the old mantra that ‘catches win matches’.
Alan Moore’s third team continued their promotion push with a victory away at New Brighton on Saturday. Batting first, Moore’s team amassed 176-6 declared in only 34 overs on the back of an unbeaten 78 from Charlie Abbott, an unbeaten 30 from Harrison Hurst and 33 from Ben Connor. Moore himself also contributing 21.The visitors were then bowled out for 120 in 46 overs. Joe Whiteley was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5-8 from 9 overs. There was also a wicket apiece from Gregg Lea, Hurst, James Such and Moore. This victory moved Moore’s team to second in the table.
On Sunday, Mark Crumpton’s fourth team welcomed Oxton (newcomers to the league for 2022) to Winstanley Road. The visitors batted first and made 160-9 declared from 44.3 overs. George Berry with two wickets whilst there was one wicket each for Logan Pallett, Tom Capstick, Alfie Berry, Alan Moore and Joe Whiteley. After a shaky start which saw the loss of 4 wickets, Pallett and David Naylor steadied the ship as they both unleased some eye catching shots along the ground. When Naylor had to retire at 50 due to league rules, it was left to Pallett to keep the innings momentum going. When he was adjudged leg before wicket for a well made 60, James Edgington then picked up the baton and also batted with great maturity for 24 until he holed out to mid off attempting to go over the top.A later order collapse then ensued and Orrell teetered on 150-9. Naylor re-entered the fray and took care of matters as he finished unbeaten on 62 to see Crumpton’s team to a one wicket victory.
Also on Sunday, a young and makeshift Sunday development team were well beaten at Wigan. Batting first, Orrell were all out for only 51 in 19.4 overs. Tom Such was the only batter to make double figures with 17 on a day that saw his father Ian make a comeback to join Tom and his brother James in the team- indeed there was a real family feel to the side as Steve Warburton joined his daughter Georgia in the team. Wigan made light work of the chase losing 3 wickets in the process. Cousins Georgia Warburton and Emily James opened the bowling and were rewarded with 2 wickets and one wicket respectively.