It was a case of so near yet so far for Orrell’s first-team at the weekend whilst the kids were alright for the second team.
On Saturday, the first team welcomed neighbours Wigan to Winstanley Road on a gloriously sunny day at a picturesque and busy YMCA ground. Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Sam Heeley saw openers Luke Prescott and Andy Baybutt get the innings off to a strong start. However, they both edged John Richardson behind in quick succession to lead the score 45-2. After a slow start, Richard Everett set about building a long innings that he knew might be crucial in the context of the match. Unfortunately, when both Mark Waddington and Sam Heeley were dismissed to make the score 100-4 the target of 220 runs for maximum batting points within 55 overs seemed a long way off. Enter Matthew Wareing who displayed a more mature attitude to the construction of his innings as a half-century partnership was brought up. Soon after making a well-deserved half-century however, Everett was adjudged lbw for a well made 55 to leave the score 166-5.
Wareing then assumed the mantle of innings leader as he brought up his maiden first-team half-century. With the target of 220 runs looming into view and the run rate per over required to achieve this within 55 overs creeping up Wareing was caught for 65 to leave the score at 204-7. Despite the efforts of the lower order, at 55 overs Orrell found themselves on 212-8. Heeley felt it prudent to declare at this point and not jeopardise the four batting points accrued.
In reply, Wigan lost opening batter Charles Taylor early when he was caught by Wareing off the bowling of Heeley. This should have signalled an increased intensity from the Orrell bowlers and fielders. However, Wigan’s second wicket partnership of Jake Leyland and in particular John Richardson changed the momentum of the game as they seemed untroubled by the Orrell bowlingnand fed off the flatness of the home team in general. At the drinks break, Wigan seemed to be cruising to victory. As often happens, the drinks break saw a momentum shift as Naveen Gunawardana bowled Leyland and then Dominic Hayes had ex-New Zealand international Aaron Redmond caught behind by Everett. Richardson however seemed unteohbled and whilst he was at the crease it was very much odds-on a Wigan victory. Gunawardana then produced a moment of magic to bowl Richardson and at 133-4 it was now very much game on for both teams. When Hayes had Patrick Howley caught at cover by Alfie Clarke and then Gunawardana struck twice more then at 176-7 it was very much Orrell’s game to win now. A partnership of 26 between Adnan Miakhel and Vinay Choudhary looked to swing the momentum back towards Wigan before Choudhary was caught by Luke Prescott who then displayed outstanding fielding skills to run out Joe Burrows with a direct hit from mid-off. At 202-9, the game seemed to be back within Orrell’s control. However, Miakhel was showing a maturity beyond his years whilst Orrell’s bowling and fielding let them down at this key time including an overthrow for two additional runs. With the scores tied in the final over of the day’s play, the Wigan youngster hit a four through point to bring up victory for the visitors. Great credit must go to Miakhel for his game winning innings and the game management is shown as part of that. From an Orrell perspective, a disappointing loss having fought back impressively from almost certain defeat to be in control of proceedings. Gunawardana finished with figures of 5-80, Hayes 2-35 and Heeley 1-43.
On Sunday, the team (minus the captain and Matthew Wareing who were both unavailable) entertained Ormskirk in the group semi-final at the National knockout competition. Winning the toss and choosing to bat, stand-in skipper Andy Baybutt saw a positive start from both Luke Prescott and Ben Mahoney. Mahoney was eventually out for 16 the victim of an outstanding one-handed catch at mid-on by George Politis. 37-1 soon became 53-3 as both Richard Everett and Mark Waddington were dismissed in quick succession by Toby Bulcock. Prescott continued to build his innings and was given support by Baybutt as a fourth wicket partnership of 60 ensued before Baybutt 31 bowled round his legs attempting a trademark paddle sweep. Regrettably for Orrell, Prescott did not receive the support he needed from the rest of the order and Prescott was eventually ninth man out for an excellent 77. Orrell were bowled out for 165 in 39.3 overs. With a little more game management from the Orrell batting lineup, an additional 30 to 40 runs could have been added.
In reply, the visitors took an aggressive approach to chasing such a low total until Dominic Hayes had Callum Turner caught by Naveen Gunawardana to leave the score 37-1. After an indifferent first over, the Sri Lankan slow left-arm bowler settled into an outstanding groove and he got his reward when he caught and bowled Alex Rankin to make the score 64-2. At the drinks break, the visitors were halfway to the total and seemed well set with Lancashire County player George Lavelle at the crease. When Gunawardana bowled Politis immediately after the drinks break, Orrell tried hard to get a foothold back in the game. Unfortunately, Lavelle was then dropped twice in this period and the moment passed. Gunwardana had Sam Holden caught behind by Everett to make the score 135-4 but still Lavelle remained at the crease. Matthew Parkinson had Harvey Rankin stumped in the games final passages, but Lavelle brought up a five wicket victory for the visitors with just under five overs of the day’s play left as he finished unbeaten on 72 from 81 balls- a game winning knock for the visitors from the County player.
Hayes took 1-41, Parkinson 1-35 from 7.2 overs and Gunwardana was the pick of the bowlers taking 3-21 from eight overs.
This is the first time that the club have entered the National Knockout for a number of years and it has proved to be a very worthwhile experience with notable victories over Hyde and Blackpool. The team will be left with a sense of what if however over what would have happened had they been able to post another 30 to 40 runs in the first-innings.
Meanwhile, Steve Unsworth’s second team went into the weekend on a high after a comprehensive T20 victory in the Chrysalis Cup away at Northern on Thursday night. The hosts won the toss and batted first. In the face of some inspired bowling from the Orrell young attack, they only made 107-4 from 20 overs. Tom Wilkinson took 2-14 from four overs, James Edgington 1-9 from four overs and David Cheetham 1-15 from two overs. In reply, Orrell made light work of the chase bringing up a nine wicket victory in 13.3 overs with an unbeaten 50 from Mahoney, 18 from Harrison Hurst and 24 not out from Logan Pallet. A notable victory for Unsworth’s young team.
On Saturday, Unsworth’s team made the short trip to neighbours Wigan for a top of the table clash. Asked to bat first by the hosts, Jonathan Cooper and Arthur Moore got the scoreboard rattling along. When Moore was out for 30, Cooper soon followed for 57 to make the score 93-2. Unsworth may have worried at this point that the momentum would slow but Matthew Hayes (39) and Logan Pallet (33) continued the Orrell push. Oliver Mahoney also made a contribution of 23 as, despite making a bit of a mess of the last few overs, Unsworth was able to declare on 205-7 from 50 overs. James Leyland ran through the Wigan top order to leave them in trouble at 9-3, but Wigan showed why they are unbeaten also this season as they finished 164-7 from 40 overs the match ending in a draw but Unsworth content that his team controlled most of the day’s play. Leyland finished with figures of 3-54, Edgington 2-29 and Pallet 2-33.
Also on Saturday, Orrell’s third team made light work of Sefton Park with a comprehensive victory. Winning the toss and batting first, stand in skipper Mark Crumpton saw Orrell make 195-6 declared from only 37 overs on the back of 54 from George Mushahwar, 37 from Ben Connor, 28 from Harrison Hurst and 34 from David Cheetham. The visitors were bowled out for 36 in only 18.2 overs. Greg Lea had figures of 3-9, Cheetham 3-5 Joel Whiteley 1-15 and Charlie Sarath 1-9.
There were games for both Sunday teams. Mark Crumpton’s Sunday Premier league team made the trip to Southport and Birkdale. The hosts won the toss and batted first and racked up a large 227-6 declared from 43 overs. George Mushahwar took 3-64, Arthur Moore 1-19 and Logan Pallet 1-31. After opening batters Crumpton and Moore had given the team a platform from which to build disappointingly only Tom Wilkinson (47 not out) picked up the baton as they were bowled out for only 141 in 35 overs. A tough day at the office for Crumpton’s young team.
Also on Sunday, Emily James’ Sunday development team visited Northern in a game where the venue had to be reversed because of our first team cup home game. Winning the toss and batting first, the young batting lineup was bowled out for only 92 with only the experienced heads of Ian Davies and David Cheetham (with 33 respectively) keeping the scorers busy. In reply the hosts seem to be in a lot of trouble at 9-4 but an unbeaten 49 from skipper Matthew Kavanagh saw Northern win by four wickets in only 25.2 overs. David Haslam took 2-18, Charlie Sarath 1-24 and George Warburton 1-23.
Both home games this weekend saw large crowds in attendance. A huge thank you to those who came down to support the team