ECB Premier League - Bootle get home by 1 wicket
Saturday 28th August 2004

Bootle took a giant step to retaining the ECB Premier League title by beating their only rivals, Lytham.

The writing looked on the wall for the visitors early on as they slumped to 10-3 after electing to bat. But, despite only finishing with 137 (46.3 overs), in which Charlie Lamb proved their main tormentor with 6-33, they still managed to make a fight of it.

Warren McSkimming (54) and Nick Knight (37*) had given them hope bit Graham Lloyd (59) and David Snellgrove (31) provided a sound base for the reply. However, Marcus Sharp (5-30) and Jimmy Wisniewski (3-44) made it anything but easy for the champions elect, who scrambled home by one wicket.

If Ormskirk escape relegation this season then their dramatic last ball victory over Wallasey could prove to be their most important result. There was plenty of drama after Wallasey had made a confident 225-7d (58 overs), John Pugh (85) and captain Phil Luxon (42) shared a stand of 100 for the third wicket, while Paul Strang hit 49.

Home skipper John Armstrong hit a magnificent 101 (128 balls, 11x4s, 1x6) before being run out and shared a second wicket stand of 103 with Mike Taylor (53). Alex Bailey made 30 and then Adam Sanford took control in a thrilling finish.

Twelve were needed off the last over and that became two from the final delivery, but Sanford (24*) took advantage of a fumble to scramble home at 226-5 and give Ormskirk a vital lifeline, while leaving the Wirral side a little nervy as they drop towards danger.

Bottom club Maghull, after a fine win at Wallasey last week, were well served by Dave Barlow (55) and Liam Crilly (53) in their 201-7d (61 overs) after losing the toss at home to Northern. Steve Parry, who took 4-66, hit a fine 70 which, allied to James Marshall's 78, saw the visitors clinch a four wicket win in the last over to go third.

Southport and Birkdale dropped into the relegation zone after being skittled for 109 (Ronnie Davis taking 5-38 and Greg Jennings 3-31) at Leigh, for whom Steve Mullaney (36*) and skipper Dave Dove (35*) helped secure an eight wicket win.

New Brighton are still not out of the woods and an injury blow to Louis Botes against Northop Hall didn't help. The all rounder was  one of four batsmen who made half centuries as the Rakers posted 240-5d (50 overs) after being inserted. Martyn Evans (53), Chris Davies (53) opened with 95 and then Chandika Hathurusinghe (55) and Botes (52) added 85 for the third wicket.

Botes' hamstring injury while at the crease meant he couldn't bowl so that restricted the home attack and the Welsh side replied with 124-7 (53 overs) with Arshad Khan 47, John Horrocks ending with figures of 14-8-10-3.

Huyton scored a vital win over Sefton Park at Huyton Lane to edge towards safety. Spinner Vinayak Mane had amazing figures of 6.2-2-6-5 for the visitors as Huyton slumped from 152-4 to 156 all out after 42.2 overs, Mohammad Hafeez (33) and Ashraf Nawab (33).

In reply, spinner Hafeez proved almost unplayable too, taking 7-32 to destroy Sefton Park for 118 all out with Paul Horton (39), Mane (27) and Howard Parker in hospital with a damaged hand, sustained whilst fielding.

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