The slump in form of Orrell’s first-team continued at the weekend when they entertained Ormskirk at Winstanley Road.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, Orrell captain Sam Heeley saw his already under pressure batting lineup fall to 88 all out in only 36.4 overs. Having lost Luke Prescott in the first over of the game, it looked like Ben Mahoney would continue his recent promising performances at the top of the orderalongside Richard Everett. Unfortunately for Mahoney, having made a start, he was bowled when on 17 to leave the score 20-2. Everett showed his usual resilience and resolve but failed to receive support from the remainder of the Orrell top order who are clearly struggling for confidence at the moment.
The one potential exception to this was Matthew Wareing who made a quick start and it looked like a promising fifth wicket partnership could be built between Everett and Wareing. Disaster struck when Wareing was run out by a direct hit when attempting a quick single. When Everett fell for 30, the rest of the Orrell batting order soon followed.
In reply, the Orrell bowlers tried to make the best of the difficult situation and Naveen Gunawardana had George Politis stumped by Everett with the score on five. There were also a couple of very close leg before wicket shouts against Callum Turner from Dominic Hayes that on another day could have gone in the home team’s direction. Despite commendable effort from all the bowlers and four wickets falling, the visitors won by six wicketsin only 29.1 overs. Gunawardana took three wickets and Matthew Parkinson one wicket.
The team had also been knocked out of the ECB T20 tournament on Thursday evening when they lost at home to Leigh. With the visitors batting first, it looked like the Orrell bowlers would restrict Leigh to a low score but Karl Brown and Adam Shallcross showed their class as an unbeaten fourth wicket partnership of 87 saw the visitors make 141-3 from 20 overs. A disappointing chase from the home team saw them fall short on 115-6 from 20 overs despite being up with the required rate at the halfway stage of the innings.
A difficult period for Heeley and his team and it is to be hoped they can find their batting mojo sooner rather than later.
On Saturday, Steve Unsworth second team made the trip to Liverpool Cricket Club in a first versus second clash. The home team won the toss and elected to bat first. Taking advantage of the batter friendly conditions alongside some indifferent Orrell bowling, they racked up 278-4 declared in 45 overs. Having batted to such a large score and then setting largely defensive fields from over one of the second innings, it was clear that the priority for the home team was to not lose the match and widen the gap between the two teams in the league. Unsworth and his team picked up on this tactic and never seriously attempted to chase down the winning total safe in the knowledge that the gap between the two teams in the table would remain. Orrell were 117-5 in the 35th over when thunder and lightning saw an early end to the match. The match finishing as a draw.
Alan Moore’s third team continued their unbeaten streak with a win against Irby Cricket Club on Saturday. Batting first having won the toss, Orrell made 200-4 declared in only 28 overs on the back of 88 not out from Chris Riley and 44 from Tom Such. The visitors chase began at a substantial rate of knots but the Orrell bowlers held their nerve and wickets fell at regular intervals. The visitors were eventually all out for 166 in 39 overs. The captain led the way with 4-23 from 13 overs, Joe Whiteley 1-52,James Such 3-26 and Charlie Sarath 2-16.
It was a Sunday of success for Orrell’s teams as both teams won their matches.
Visiting Newton Le Willows Cricket club, Mark Crumpton’s Sunday Premier team bowled out the hosts for 122 in 38.2 overs with David Haslam (4-12) was the pick of the bowlers. Therewere also wickets for Harrison Hurst (1-6) Arthur Moore (1-38) Alan Moore (2-15) and Oliver Mahoney (2-3). The young Orrell top order made light work of the chase as they won by seven wickets in only 22.5 overs. Arthur Moore finishing unbeaten on 46 from only 50 balls and Oliver Mahoney unbeaten 31 from 44 balls.
Emily James Sunday Development team welcomed Maghull Cricket Club to Winstanley Road. Winning the toss and batting first, the home team were 134 all out in 34 overs. James Such top scoring with 61 whilst his brother Tom made 26. The visitors were bowled out for 100 in 36.2 overs with Alfie Berry (4-9) leading the way. George Warburton took one wicket,James Such capped a fine all-round day with two wickets and Luke Prescott took two wickets also. A very pleasing win for such a young team.