First Division - Neil Rimmer century wins match of the day
Saturday 28th August 2004

Neil Rimmer hit a crucial century for Fleetwood Hesketh as their quest for promotion to the ECB Premier League received a terrific boost. They are now hot favourites to join Hightown after a comprehensive nine wicket win over close rivals Colwyn Bay.

Second team skipper, Bhautik Shukla, proved the ideal replacement for the unavailable first team captain Peter Appleton, taking 6-45 as the Welsh side were dismissed for 159 (Sion Morris 47) from 63 overs after losing the toss.

It could have been worse as Paul Jenkins (27) and Gareth Edwards (11*) added 39 for the last wicket. After the interval, they had no answer to a brilliant 110* (117 balls, 16x4s, 1x6) from Rimmer in the victory romp after he and Gary Wells (25) had opened with a partnership of 102.

Fleetwood Hesketh now have a cushion of 25 pts over the Bay, while leaders Hightown maintained their steady course to promotion by easily beating Worsley by 111 runs.

An opening stand of 132 between captain Ian Sutcliffe (76) and Guy Edwards (39) set up the win. They reached 181 from 49.3 overs after winning the toss (Paul Burton 6-43, Ian McLellan 3-24) and then Evon McInnis (5-37) and Sutcliffe (3.4-1-4-3) made short  work of the visitors who collapsed to 70 all out.

Liverpool's eight wicket success at Haydock keeps them fourth. the home side totalled 190 after 62.4 overs mainly through Mario Ventura's excellent 114 (11x4s, 2x6s) while Marc Kelly (4-40) and Geoff Blackburn (4-78) bowled well.

Francois du Plessis (85*, 12x4s) and skipper Stephen Nealey (53*) combined in an unbroken partnership of 119 to see the visitors home after Daniel Jackson had made 42.

Mark Shorrocks (6-44) helped Wigan reduce St Helens Recs to 119 all out from 52.3 overs, Kevin Dunbar (34), but Recs hit back through Gary Freeman (5-32) and Mark Orchard (3-29) to sink the visitors for 104 (49.2 overs).

Byron Cooper was dismissed for 96 as Caldy won by eight wickets against Newton le Willows. The visitors made 201-5d (SS Das 97) but Cooper, aided by skipper Andy Roberts (50*) in a second wicket partnership of 106 and Dave Aston (43) completed an 8 wicket win. Das passed his 1000 runs for the season and is now on 1029.

Formby clinched an exciting seven wicket success over Highfield  with a single off the last ball. Simon Mollitt (64*) led a recovery from 58-5 to lift Highfield to 180-9d (James Beckingham 3-29).

Graeme Morris (57), Brendan McDonald (39) and Dave Hadden (32) led a confident reply which saw them get the eight needed off the last over.

A second wicket stand of 130 between Craig Stockdale (89) and Steve Tickle (63*) allowed Orrell Red Triangle to rattle up 204-3d from 50 overs against St Helens who were stunned by Nick Cullen's 5-29 in replying with just 104, Craig Horabin (29) and Ian Moncrieff (24).