It was a weekend of extremes for Orrell’s first team as they went from the lows of a capitulation in the league on the Saturday to a convincing victory on the road in the National Knockout trophy.
The club had been stunned on Friday by the devastating news that Kathryn Wain-Mahoney- loving wife of Al and devoted mother to Oliver and Ben- had passed away after a long battle with illness. There was a sombre and reflective mood around the ground on Saturday before the first team game as the club flag was lowered to half-mast and a well-attended minute’s silence took place.
On Saturday, Sam Heeley’s first-team entertainer Rainhill Cricket club who included current Derbyshire county cricketer Billy Godleman in their ranks. Heeley won the toss and chose to bat first on a sunny day. Despite losing Andrew Baybutt early, the decision to bat first looked to be a good one as Luke Prescott and Richard Everett took the score past 40 with little trouble. However, a calamitous run out saw Prescott leave the field and triggered an Orrell batting collapse of rare proportions. A series of batters got out to injudicious shots as Orrell were all out for a meagre 81 in 31.3 overs. Prescott top scoring with 21.
The Rainhill opening batters took the opportunity to show how good the wicket had been in chasing such a low total in only 8.1 overs. A poor performance triggered by the batting collapse.
On Sunday, Heeley’s team look to bounce back away at Blackpool Cricket Club in the National knockout Trophy. The home team won the toss and elected to bat first. In trying to make a positive start, the hosts lost both opening batters and when Dominic Hayes took the key wicket of Shivam Chaudhary to make the score 28-3, the Orrell bowlers applied pressure that the hosts never escaped from. The hosts were eventually bowled out for 75 in 29.2 overs. Hayes took 2-29, Heeley 3-18, Alfie Clarke 1-1, Matthew Parkinson 1-18 and Naveen Gunwardana 3-9 from 8 overs.
Despite losing two early wickets, Luke Prescott and Heeley closed the door on any hope of a home team comeback with Orrell strolling to an eight wicket victory in only 13.4 overs. Prescott top scoring with an unbeaten 37 and Heeley finishing 24 not out. The team will now play Ormskirk at home in the next round on Sunday 28th May.
On Saturday, Steve Unsworth’s second team made the return visit to Rainhill Cricket Club. The home team won the toss and elected to bat and made a strong start to their innings. However, once the opening batters had been removed, the young Orrell bowling attack applied wicket and scoreboard pressure to an extent that the hosts felt that they needed to bat on beyond 45 overs- eventually declaring on 170-7 after 53 overs. Arthur Moore continued his fine form with the ball with 4-35, James Edgington took 2-33 and Logan Pallet 1-32.
In reply, Orrell opening batters Moore and Jonathan Cooper (33) got the reply off to a strong start. When they were both dismissed, the young guns of Ben Mahoney and Logan Pallett took charge of the situation as they paced the Orrell victory attempt perfectly as the visitors won by eight wickets with a number of overs to spare. Pallett finishing unbeaten on 28 and Ben (who along with younger brother Oliver had chosen to play in order to honour their mum) showed unbelievable mental strength as he went through the gears to finish 86 not out. An impressive victory for Unsworth’s team and indicative of the growing role that the younger players are now starting to play in the team.
Also on Saturday, Orrell’s third team (under the stand in captaincy of George Mushahwar) secured a win away at Caldy. Orrell batted first and made 175 for seven declared in 43 overs off the back of 69 from Under 15 Harrison Hurst, an unbeaten 39 from Under 15 Thomas Wilkinson and 23 from Chris Riley. Despite some late resistance from the home team’s lower order, the Orrell bowling attack got their team over the line with balls to spare as Caldy were bowled out for 134 in 45.5 overs. Greg Lea was the pick of the bowlers with 4-22, Wilkinson capped a fine all-round performance with 2-32, Joe Whiteley took 2-9 and the captain took 1-16.
All at the club would like to extend our sincere condolences to the Mahoney family on their sad loss and would ask for their privacy to be respected whilst they come to terms with their loss.