Orrell’s first team made the short trip to Leigh on Saturday as they looked to build on last week’s performance against New Brighton.Skipper Sam Heeley won the toss and elected to field on a warm day- an unusual decision in the conditions but one that reflected recent struggles to bowl teams out allied to the teams depth in batting. A disciplined opening spell from both Dominic Hayes and Heeley was not rewarded with an early wicket but meant that the Leigh run rate was kept in check. The more pressing concern for Orrell was an injury to wicket-keeper David Naylor…
Author: Gary Hayes
Orrell’s first team were thwarted by New Brighton in their victory quest as they sought their first win of the league season. Home skipper Sam Heeley won the toss and elected to bat in conditions that had been freshened up by the rain on Friday and overnight into Saturday and might offer a little more assistance to the bowlers. Orrell soon found themselves in a spot of bother at 18-2 and were looking to Andy Baybutt and Mark Waddington to steady the ship. This they did until Baybutt was dismissed for 22. At 56-4, the Orrell innings needed another partnership…
Orrell’s first team welcomed reigning Lancashire Knockout champions Ormskirk to Winstanley Road on Saturday looking to bounce back from their opening day loss at Formby in a high-scoring thriller. Returning captain Sam Heeley won the toss and elected to bat first on what looked to be a good batting track. Orrell knew that the task in hand would be a tough one as, having lost on both visits to Winstanley Road since Orrell’s entry into the ECB Liverpool Competition Premier league, a significantly strengthened Ormskirk team (including Lancashire first team players Tom Hartley and George Lavelle as well as Afghan…
The much anticipated 2022 Liverpool Competition cricket season got underway on Saturday. Orrell’s first team began with a tough away game at a Formby team bolstered by the availability of the Ireland international captain William Porterfield as well as Gloucestershire County Cricketer and star of the Adelaide Strikers Big Bash T20 season this winter Ian Cockbain. The size of the challenge for Orrell was further increased by the unavailability of Captain Sam Heeley as well as Richard Everett. Stand-in Captain Andy Baybutt won the toss and chose to bat first on what looked to be a good batting wicket and…
Written by Gary Hayes Orrell Beaten at the Champions Orrell’s first team ended their league season with a trip to champions Northern CC. With preparations upset by the late withdrawal of Duvindu Tillakaratne due to illness as well as an injury to Cameron Sharp during the warmup, Sam Heeley’s team received a timely boost when they won the toss and elected to bat first. The Orrell opening batting pair of Ammer Mirza and Chris Riley got off to a flying start with a number of boundaries. Mirza in particular carried on his fine form of the previous week being particularly…
Written by Gary Hayes FRUSTRATING DRAW FOR ORRELL It was a frustrating day for Sam Heeley’s first team away at Formby as they were unable to secure the victory that looked likely at one stage. The game started an hour early at the request of Orrell due to the Orrell Proms event back at the club- many thanks to Formby for agreeing to this. Heeley won the toss and elected to bat first as openers Ammer Mirza and Andy Baybutt faced the potent threat of Derbyshire second team bowler Ollie Sutton and Minor Counties bowler Sam Ellis. Neither batter looked…
Written by Gary Hayes MOORE THE MERRIER FOR ORRELL It was a weekend of mixed results for Orrell senior teams but a memorable weekend of success for one of the clubs most prominent households. On Saturday, Sam Heeley’s first team welcomed second placed Wallasey CC to Winstanley Road hoping for a repeat of their thrilling last ball win in the return fixture earlier in the season. The hosts won the toss and elected to bat but soon lost an early wicket to leave them 4-1. Unfortunately, whilst the Orrell bowling attack bowled well as a unit they were let down…
Written by Gary Hayes ORRELL PUT IN A SPIN Sam Heeley’s first team succumbed to a disappointing defeat as they welcomed neighbours Leigh Cricket Club to Winstanley Road on Saturday. Leigh captain Karl Brown-the ex-Lancashire County championship winner-won the toss and elected to field on a sunny day. The visitors opened the bowling with Brown himself at the Winstanley College end and current Derbyshire County cricketer Matthew McKiernan opening with his leg spin from the Winstanley Road end. As befits two players of such a high pedigree, the bowling was impressive and constantly probed at the technique of the Orrell…
Written by Gary Hayes POOR WEATHER INTERVENES AGAIN The very poor weather, in what is one of the wettest Augusts for many a year, severely curtailed Orrell’s cricketing activity once again this weekend. On Saturday, Sam Heeley’s first team were away at Ormskirk who would surely have had one eye on the Lancashire knockout cup final at Old Trafford the following day. After an extensive mopping up operation, play did eventually get underway 100 minutes late. The hosts won the toss and elected to bowl first in what looked to be bowler friendly conditions. It soon became apparent that as…
Written by Gary Hayes BAYBUTT HAS A WEEKEND TO REMEMBER A Saturday of frustration for Sam Heeley’s first team turned into a Sunday of celebration as they achieved a notable victory away at Bootle Cricket Club – traditionally one of the hardest places to win in North West club cricket. On Saturday, Heeley’s team welcomed Bootle to Winstanley Road in what would be the first game of a weekend double header. Having won the toss and elected to bat first, Orrell opening batters Ammer Mirza and Andy Baybutt got Orrell off to a steady start against a pace attack including…