Report: Shaun Brocken

Photos: Peter Rogan

ORMSKIRK v RAINFORD

The 1st XI made it two from two at the start of the Liverpool Competition season with a 57 run victory over local neighbours Rainford.

Under slate grey skies and after considerable overnight rain, it was no surprise that Rainford asked the hosts to bat first; the openers made another solid start, progressing the score to 30 before Calum Turner (18) was caught off the bowling of Liam Gaskell. Sam Holden joined George Politis and with his usual positive nature made 25 along with Politis who made 20. Both batters fell within 14 runs of each other and when Harvey Rankin was bowled for 5, the home side were struggling at 76-4.

A trait of this Ormskirk side is their strong middle order with their ability to muster a score from tricky positions and, once again, this would come to the fore. Skipper Gary Knight led the way, with a battling 38 that included an intriguing encounter with the impressive Rainford spinner John Dotters. Alongside Tom Brown (14) they put on 31 for the 6th wicket and, despite 2 wickets in quick succession, Knight combined with Sam Marsh to put on 24 for the 7th wicket. Dotters finally got the better of Knight, trapping him lbw but Marsh picked up the baton alongside Toby Bulcock, putting on 25 for the 8th wicket before Marsh was run out for 28. Bulcock (10) and Scott Lees (5) quickly followed and Ormskirk had once again battled hard to register a total of 173.

With the ground work done by the batters, it was the bowlers who once again, smashed down the door to victory with another impressive display. Marsh and Lees lead the attack again and after a positive start to the run chase Marsh pinned Bailey lbw and in the next over Lees bowled Login with the score on 28. James Davies (4) become Lees 2nd victim, before Marsh had Farrar (4) caught behind before taking a sharp caught and bowled to send Kriek back for a duck.

In the blink of an eye Rainford had lost half their wickets with just 12 added to the score. The Rainford captain dug in alongside William Threlkeld before Knight turned to Jamie Barnes who quickly trapped Threlkeld for 7. Josh Proctor was the only batter that was able to apply pressure to the Ormskirk attack during his innings of 44 from just 36 balls.

It was Barnes’s day though, as with the last hour approaching he had Dotters caught behind for 18. Gaskell quickly followed via another impressive Knight stumping off Barnes, before Bulcock chipped in with his solitary wicket. It left Barnes, to wrap things up with his 4th wicket via another great Knight catch and wrap up the 23 point victory.