03308

First Division - another last gasp win for Sefton
Saturday 3rd July 2010

Sefton Park inspirational skipper Robbie Houghton took his wickets tally for the season to 39 on Saturday when his 6-75 helped his side to an exciting four run win over Maghull with one ball remaining at Croxteth Drive. The visitors needed 225 to beat Houghton's men and were making good progress before the slow left armer took the last four wickets, including that of top scorer Andy Hewitt (39), in a finish which tested the nerves of players and supporters alike. Earlier, Rashidi Boucher (62) and Chris Bellis (52) had batted soundly as the home side posted 224-9d in 55 overs, Chris Tonge taking 3-28. scorecard

Sefton Park's win was well timed considering that the two leading clubs both lost. Leigh failed to defend 168 at Rainhill, losing by three wickets with Mansoor Ahmed making 79* for the home side. Defeat was hard on David Dempster, who took 5-66, but Mansoor had also taken 4-43 in Leigh's innings. Lancashire batsman Karl Brown made 89, a knock which included 7x4s and 3x6s. scorecard

Rainford did their promotion hopes a power of good by inflicting a 14 run defeat on Orrell Red Triangle, whose seamers Andrew Mercer (5-38) and Lee Martinus (3-22) had bowled Mark Williams' side out for 137. However, Michael Lambert (4-28) and Pravin Tambe (3-47) hit back for Rainford, and Orrell could muster only 123 in reply, Richard Sherry making 24. scorecard

Southport and Birkdale ended a run of four successive losses with an easy seven wicket win at Wigan. The home side had been dismissed for a disappointing 148 in 45.5 overs with Adrian Shankar top scoring with 40, Chris Page taking 3-20. Half centuries for Andy Barlow (55) and Dale Cranston (66*) helped the Sandgrounders to 150-3 after 39.4 overs. scorecard

Things don't look much brighter for Fleetwood Hesketh, although Paul Regan will be encouraged by his side's brave attempt to chase 222 to beat Liverpool. The Sea Cop side were bowled out just five runs short of their target with Tommy Wareing's 84* raising the spirits in Marshside. Left arm seamer Luke Lynch took 4-28 for Liverpool for whom Matthew Jackson had made 63 in their total of 221-7d, Neil Rimmer taking 5-51 for Hesketh. scorecard

Formby's 100 run defeat of Skelmersdale deepened the bottom club's gloom. Elliot Ketteringham bolstered the home side's innings with 81 in a total of 240 all out and then Jake Turner took 3-8 and Mark O'Connor 3-61 as Skem were skittled for 140 in 40.4 overs after being 65-6. scorecard