S&B's crunch time off to ideal start

Paul Edwards writes in the Southport Visiter

Southport and Birkdale’s first team prepared for what their skipper, Dean Skelton, described as a “crunch few weeks” by defeating Hightown St Mary’s by nine wickets at Trafalgar Road on Saturday.

The margin of victory reflected the gulf between the sides and the only reason why S&B collected 20 points for their victory, rather than 25, was in its way, very welcome. With much-needed rain approaching, Skelton opted to bowl first in the hope of clinching a quick victory.

That strategy worked but it meant S&B had their lead at the top of the Love Lane Liverpool Competition’s First Division cut to three points over Colwyn Bay, who bagged maximum points against Sefton Park. The five teams at the top of the table are now covered by 34 points and there are eight games left in the league season.

And it is easy to see Skelton’s point about the importance of the next few weeks. After next Saturday’s visit to Sefton Park, S&B will face Maghull (H), Spring View (A), Northop Hall (A) and New Brighton (H). Victories in these games should set the side up neatly for a run-in that includes fixtures against promotion rivals Colwyn Bay and Highfield.

But whatever tests await S&B there was no disputing their superiority on Saturday. Having seen Hightown St Mary’s reach a very respectable 51 for one, Tom Crew making the first breakthrough when he trapped Joel McGinnigle leg-before, Bobby Wincer and Mo Kashif removed the second-wicket pair, Guy Edwards and Patrick Connolly, to start a collapse that saw the visitors lose their last nine wickets for 33 runs.

The spinners caused havoc, Wincer finishing with five for 14 and Kashif four for 19. And it was heartening to see the slow bowlers return to their best form in advance of the final third of the league season.

In the absence of Kiran Naidoo and in order to expedite victory still further, Skelton promoted himself to open the innings and the skipper had made 26 out of an opening partnership of 54 when he became the only home batsman dismissed. Ronnie Roy and Matthew Wood completed the win, S&B scoring the required runs in just 12.4 overs.

 S&B’s second team also strolled to victory on Saturday when they defeated Old Xaverians on their own patch by ten wickets. Peter Crew took four for 12, including a hat-trick, as Old Xavs were bowled out for 67 in 21.5 overs. Angus Gailey then made an uninhibited 42 not out and Sam Ayres an undefeated 24 to complete the win in just ten overs. The victory keeps S&B in second place in the First Division but they trail leaders Liverpool by 34 points.

 Despite losing to Fleetwood Hesketh by seven wickets S&B’s third team are still fourth in the Sunday Premier Division. In the match at Trafalgar Road, S&B made 150 in 54 overs but Fleetwood Hesketh knocked off those runs in just 28 overs.

1st Team Scorecard

2nd Team Scorecard

3rd Team Scorecard