Written by Gary Hayes
Orrell’s first team secured a thrilling victory over visitors Rainhill on Saturday at an appreciative Winstanley Road.
Rainhill came into the match as the form team in the league on the back of three consecutive victories and chose to field after winning the toss. Orrell opening bats, Ammer Mirza and Matthew Hayes, found scoring difficult in the face of some probing opening bowling from the visitors assisted by seam movement off the wicket. When Hayes was adjudged leg before wicket after a double sound to leave the score 24-2, it was incumbent on the in-form Richard Everett and stand in skipper Andy Baybutt to stabilise the innings. This they did with aplomb until Baybutt was bowled for 32 from a ball that jagged back into his leg stump. At 84-3, Mark Waddington walked to the crease and straight away looked to be in the imperious form he had threatened to be in for a number of weeks now without quite getting to 50. Everett and Waddington mixed astute shot placement and effective running between the wickets to take Orrell into a strong position of 193-3 from 54 overs at tea. Waddington also unleashed a couple of seemingly effortless sixes down the ground that were a pleasure to witness whilst Everett flatbatted a six down the ground that was also pleasing on the eye.
Orrell’s first team secured a thrilling victory over visitors Rainhill on Saturday at an appreciative Winstanley Road.
Rainhill came into the match as the form team in the league on the back of three consecutive victories and chose to field after winning the toss. Orrell opening bats, Ammer Mirza and Matthew Hayes, found scoring difficult in the face of some probing opening bowling from the visitors assisted by seam movement off the wicket. When Hayes was adjudged leg before wicket after a double sound to leave the score 24-2, it was incumbent on the in-form Richard Everett and stand in skipper Andy Baybutt to stabilise the innings. This they did with aplomb until Baybutt was bowled for 32 from a ball that jagged back into his leg stump. At 84-3, Mark Waddington walked to the crease and straight away looked to be in the imperious form he had threatened to be in for a number of weeks now without quite getting to 50. Everett and Waddington mixed astute shot placement and effective running between the wickets to take Orrell into a strong position of 193-3 from 54 overs at tea. Waddington also unleashed a couple of seemingly effortless sixes down the ground that were a pleasure to witness whilst Everett flatbatted a six down the ground that was also pleasing on the eye.
With Everett on the verge of a well-deserved century and Waddington looking in great nick, Baybutt sent them out after tea to ensure that Everett secured his century as well as to take Orrell towards the 220+ mark. Unfortunately, things didn’t go to plan as both batters were dismissed within a few balls of play resuming- Everett for 93 and Waddington for 53. They weren’t the only wickets to fall as Baybutt declared on 208-7 in 58 overs a spell of play that secured very few additional runs but had handed two bowling points to the opposition.
Rainhill’s reply got underway against an Orrell bowling attack missing the skills of Sam Heeley. Dileepa Jayalath struck twice early on to leave Rainhill 24-2. All focus was then on the key visitors batting partnership of Tyler McGladerry and Sam Kershaw as they showed their class in a strong third wicket partnership that looked to be putting the visitors into a strong position. Jayalath struck a key blow when he found Kershaw’s outside edge and Richard Everett took a sharp catch at first slip to make the score 78-3. Ross Higham then came to the crease and dealt in only sixes as he looked to score quickly. Jayalath then struck two key blows when he bowled Higham and then a few overs later McGladdery was caught on the square leg boundary via an excellent catch from Matthew Hayes. At 131-5, the visitors looked be in trouble but, in fairness, they regrouped impressively and looked to be back in the hunt for victory. It was at this point that Baybutt reintroduced Dominic Hayes to the attack. Bowling quickly down the hill, Hayes struck twice on two balls as he first induced a nick from Daniel Kelly to Everett at first slip and then clean bowled Liam O’Toole.When Hayes then had Simon Brown caught by Andy Baybutt at mid-off from a leading edge, Rainhill were 184-9 and their hopes of victory rested on their overseas player Imliwati Lemitur who turned down a number of singles off the bowling of Jayalath as Orrell pressed for victory themselves. With the score on 195, a mix up saw Jack Lowrie run out by a Waddington/Jayalath combination (Jayalath having to gather the ball and throw at the stumps as he wasn’t close enough to reach out to the stumps) to give Orrell a victory by 13 runs.Jayalath finished with figures of 6-66 and Hayes 3-47. A key victory for Orrell and reward for their efforts and resilience during the match.
On Saturday, Steve Unsworth’s second team visited Northern CC in a match that ended in a draw.The hosts made 161 all out in 43.2 overs.Gareth Houghton was by far the pick of the bowlers with 7-63 as he bowled through the innings whilst Logan Pallett took 2-47 from 11 overs. In reply, at 28-5 and then 69-7, Orrell looked to be in real trouble. However, Pallett batted with maturity beyond his years as he anchored the innings. When he was joined in the middle by Terry Leaford, it looked like Orrell could snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. However, both batters were dismissed in their 40’s (Pallett for 43 and Leaford for 45) to leave the score 137-9. Houghton and Phil Taberner then saw Orrell to a draw in the remaining overs as their innings finished on 142-9.
Orrell’s Saturday third team welcomed Birkenhead Park to their temporary home base of Ormskirk CC looking to continue their recent winning streak. Stand in skipper Arthur Moore won the toss and chose to bat first. This choice was rewarded as Orrell made 187-4 declared in 37.4 overs with Ian Davies finishing unbeaten on 54 (his first Orrell half century) Moore 51 and Oliver Mahoney 33.In reply, agonisingly for Orrell, the visitors finished on 99-9 from 47 overs to secure a draw as Moore’s team were unable to take the final wicket.
On Sunday, Mark Crumpton’s young charges (with 9 juniors of Under 16 and younger playing) secured victory away at Spring View. Batting first, Orrell made 161-9 from 45 overs as they were indebted to an excellent 75 from Logan Pallett (capping a fine weekend for him). In reply, with only balls remaining of the days play, Spring View were dismissed for 143- James Edgington coming back into the attack to clean bowl the final 2 wickets. Edgington took 2-14, George Berry 2-28, Harrison Hurst 1-13, Arthur Moore 3-40 and Logan Pallett 1-23.
At Winstanley Road on Sunday, Alfie Clarke’s young Sunday Development team were beaten by a much more experienced Rainford team after only posting 54 when batting first.