ECB Premier League - Bootle open lead as Lytham lose at the Rake
Saturday 14th August 2004

David Snellgrove's all round talents helped Bootle establish a clear lead at the top of the ECB Premier League as they bid to retain their title.

It was bad enough for Huyton that the former Ormskirk skipper top scored with 55 as the leaders made 176-7 declared (50 overs) after being asked to bat (Ashraf Nawab 3-47), but it became worse when he took a superb 7-47, contributing the home side's demise from 74-2 to 103 all out.

Title rivals Lytham came unstuck at New Brighton, whose overall performance gives hope that they can survive the battle against relegation.

Rob Openshaw (58) was the mainstay for Lytham, who lost the toss and then suffered against an attack of Louis Botes (3-28) and Darren Peters (3-36) to be dismissed for 147 from 52.2 overs. The home side then responded with some fine batting from Kevin Burns (45), Paul Bryson (27*) and captain Mark Burns (also 27*) to win by six wickets.

Ormskirk's disappointing season continued with defeat against Sefton Park and they remain stuck down in the danger zone.

Mike Taylor gave a gritty show for 58 as the home side were dismissed for 127 after 47.3 overs. Stuart Wade (4-41) and Howard Parker (3-40) did the damage, while wicketkeeper Chris Nicholas took three catches and a stumping. He also batted well for 31, sharing in a second wicket stand of 81 with Vin Mane, in Sefton's six wicket triumph.

Maghull remain rooted to the bottom after losing to Northop Hall by 42 runs. Their hopes were boosted by dismissing the Welsh side, who had won the toss, for 152, in which Dave Kennedy top scored with 76, while Ryan Swiers (4-30) and Liam Crilly (4-79) bowled well. However, they had little answer to the wily spell of Arshad Khan (6-28) and collapsed to 110 all out (45.3 overs).

Southport and Birkdale's fighting spirit was evident at Northern, where they slumped to 49-6 but made a dramatic recovery to 170-9 declared, mainly through a defiant stand of 67 between Nilesh Kulkarni (44) and Dale Cranston (34), plus a helpful 32* from Phil Whelan.

The dismissal of prolific James Marshall for 38 didn't help the Crosby side, who ended on 132-7 (48 overs) with Mike Smethurst taking 3-50.

A brilliant show by Gareth Cross failed to bring Leigh victory over Wallasey. Cross cracked 11 fours and five sixes in 114 (his maiden Competition century) out of a home total of 227-3 declared (44.5 overs), sharing a partnership of 182 for the third wicket with skipper Dave Dove (58*).

The Wirral side tried to respond through captain Phil Luxon (66) and Paul Strang (59), but Cross showed his versatility with 3-25 and Ronnie Davis took 3-48 as the visitors reached 199-9 after 55 overs.

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