ECB Premier Division leaders Wallasey got back to winning ways after last week’s stumble, overcoming Southport & Birkdale in emphatic style.
The visitors faced an uphill battle once they’d slipped to 27/6 - that they recovered a little is to their lower order’s credit, but 96 was never going to be enough.
Sumit Ruikar finished with 5/51 - his 10th five-wicket haul of a season that’s barely past half-way. Jamie Crawley’s 63 made short work of the chase, completed with eight wickets to spare.
Ormskirk’s bowlers will be waking up in a cold sweat thinking of Ben Walkden’s high front elbow - the Newton-le-Willows opener scored his second unbeaten century in two weeks against Gary Knight’s side on Saturday. His 106* - in an unbroken stand of 175 with Rizwan Haider, who made 121* - fired the visitors to 292/2, which the hosts never got near thanks to Afaq Ali Sartaj’s 5/20, wrapping up a 174-run win.
Northern’s Liam Grey was too good for Orrell Red Triangle, taking 7/23 to run through the visitors for just 56 at Moor Park. Earlier, Andy Clarke’s 70 and Chris Laker’s 51 had helped the hosts post 243/7.
#BazBall came to the Comp as two sides channelled their inner Jonny Bairstows with huge chases of over 280.
Leigh skipper Karl Brown celebrated his return to the side with 107, in a stand of 195 with Matty Hurst (84) as they overhauled New Brighton’s 286/4 for a four-wicket win. Before tea, David While had struck 101 and Dan Cooke 76.
Formby’s 283/4 - with an unbeaten 107 for Indian pro Ankit Kalsi, and 66 for Sam Oldham - wasn’t enough against Rainhill, who earned a four-wicket win thanks to 79 from Mike Rotheram and an unbeaten 83 from Tyler McGladdery.
Birkenhead Park had to settle for a draw with Wigan, who closed on 180/8 after Safi Abdullah’s 5/92 had hampered their pursuit of 209. Ste Hird top-scored for Park with 54.
The Premier Division century counter now stands at 40, from 12 rounds of fixtures - more than any complete season in the three-division era. Last season saw 10 batters top 500 league runs - this year, eight have already achieved it.
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Division One leaders Liverpool were held to a draw at Northop Hall, whose last pair held on at 228/9, 25 runs short of their target. Before tea, Alex Harper had made 76 and Jared Clein an unbeaten 57 for the visitors.
Second placed Lytham were similarly frustrated by Sefton Park’s tail - after Akash Vashisht struck 105 out of 260/4, Chris Bellis’s 81 led the hosts towards safety, which they reached at 179/9. Vashisht took 5/38 in a fine all-round display.
Rainford skipper John Dotters took 5/77 to earn a 47-run win over Fleetwood Hesketh, for whom Scott Rimmer scored 68 in vain. Jason Login’s 56 helped the hosts post 224/9.
Colwyn Bay’s Jack Parry scored his maiden 1st XI ton with 111 out of his side’s 238/8 against Firwood Bootle; Josh Andrady made 54 in reply but the visitors fell 83 runs short.
Vishvaraj Jadeja smashed an unbeaten 176 for Highfield against Caldy - Hedley Molyneux’s 69, in a stand of 187, helped the hosts post a massive 303/3. It was more than enough as the Wirral side succumbed for 102.
Spring View got the better of Ainsdale thanks to David Gornall’s 94 and Suleman Khan’s 50 in a total of 234/9, after which Khan took 5/30 to wrap up a 119-run win.
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With Division Two leaders Maghull lying fallow, Southport Trinity closed the gap to four points with a six-wicket win over Hightown St Marys thanks to Salman Ahmed’s 164. Scott Francis had taken 5/46 as Sanjika Ridma’s 85 helped the visitors to 249.
Old Xaverians earned a seven-wicket win over south Liverpool rivals Wavertree, who could only manage 105. Ian Carroll’s unbeaten 63 saw the visitors home.
Alder ran through Parkfield Liscard for just 57 to earn a 167-run win; St Helens Town beat Norley Hall by three wickets after Sharen Rajendran’s 6/30 dismissed the visitors for 78; and Prestatyn - for whom Sheil Sethi scored 101 - closed six runs shy of victory with one wicket to spare against Sutton.
