Rainford triumph

It also carries them to the top of the Merseyside and Southport Cricket Alliance.

Williams (67) and Tonge (77 not out) crashed seven sixes between them as they took the side to the brink of a victory completed by fellow Rainford colt Andrew Pickavance, smashing 12 off 4 deliveries, with just five balls to spare..

Earlier the home side had compiled a steady and competitive 217 for 8 with wily spinner Chris Spencer once again among the wickets with 3 for 58. Tonge also had success with the ball claiming 3 for 44 and Milind Tamhane bowled economically to capture 2 for 48.

In the Rainford reply opener Tom Meredith (20) laid a solid foundation and Tamhane looked in fine touch before perishing on 25 with the score on 72 for 3 with only 19 overs left. The Alder celebrations proved to be premature as the Rainford young bucks coolly steered their side to a thrilling victory.

The seconds earned a well deserved draw in an exciting finish against Earlestown 1st X1 thanks to yet another stylish batting performance from Alan Maddison. His 61 proved the backbone of the Rainford reply to Earlestown's 203 for 6.

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ALL rounder Dan Massey batted the innings of his life for Rainhill in the third round of the Lancashire Knock Out Cup Lancashire Cup 3rd round.

Rainhill travelled to Barnoldswick, Lancashire. After winning the toss, Captain Mike Rotheram decided to bat first.

To start with the visitors struggled against the higher standard of bowling for the Lancashire side, but Skipper Rotheram held firm and compiled the third highest score of 18.

After Mike departed, a middle order collapse followed. Then experienced batsman Peter Mercer stood up to the bowling to chip in with a valuable 19.

That was 72/8 and in came Dan Massey who hit seven fours and a six in his unbeaten 48.

This took Rainhill's total to a modest 138 all out off the allotted 40 overs, reduced from 45.

In reply, the home side started well and when Luke Swards took two wickets in one over Barnoldswick were stumbling. Luke was the pick of the bowlers who claimed a five wicket haul to finish on 5/18. Only three batsmen got into double figures and two further wickets from Keith Willock reduced the Lancashire side to 79/8.

Captain Mike Rotheram introduced overseas player Tony Wilding into the bowling attack and five successive maidens, the first three being wicket maidens to take 3/13.

Keith Willock bowled their last man out and were bowled out for 116 off 30.1 overs. Rainhill win by 23 runs and are through to the quarter-finals for the first time.

HAYDOCK produced a fine performance at home to Prescot & Odyssey to secure their second victory of the season.

Prescot won the toss and elected to bat first with opener J Ratcliffe (44) taking the attack straight to the Haydock bowlers, launching several massive sixes in the process.

Some fine fast bowling from Paul Roberts roughed up several of the Prescot batsmen and accounted for Pravin Tambe (28) just as he was starting to look more and more settled.

Other notable contributions from A Greenwood (38) and P West (15) allowed the visitors to post a total of 155 all out.

Haydock's spinners did the most damage to Prescot. Fida Hussain (5 for 24) and Andrew Bentham (3 for 35) bowled well as a pair to dismiss the middle and lower order.

Haydock's reply got off to a stuttering start with both openers falling early. Fida Hussain (49) and Craig Gardiner (36) steadied the ship and put Haydock on the way to meeting their target.

The loss of these two players then saw Haydock lose wickets at regular intervals, and it looked like the visitors had bowled themselves into a winning position with I Wilkinson taking 5 for 47.

Haydock's tail had other ideas as Michael Fogarty battled hard for his 15.

His dismissal brought Haydock's last man to the crease with six needed for victory. Andrew Bentham (18n.o.) crowned a fine individual performance by smashing two fours to take Haydock past the Prescot total.

It was a good performance all round from Haydock who will be chasing down the teams above them in an effort to get themselves off the bottom of the table.

Haydock have a massive game next week away to Norley Hall, the team directly above them, and will be looking to avenge the home defeat early in the season.

Sutton travelled north to Tarleton this weekend and were asked to bat on a damp green wicket. Rimmer starred early on, getting into the thirties before a low skidder made the umpire raise his finger.

Anders and Filson made good contributions on a difficult batting track, but it was that man Barr top scoring again with 42 not out allowing Sutton to declare on 167 for 8 after only 46 overs. Tarleton were rightly fined for such a slow over rate.

Skipper Anders was concerned about the time left to capture the Tarleton wickets, but his fears were soon allayed as Ray Foster weaved some old magic! Pairing up with Phil Frost, Ray took 4 wickets and Frost 3 to decimate the home line up.

Two top class catches from Rimmer in the slip mopped up the Tarleton tail and Sutton travelled back south with the points.

The 2nd XI entertained league leaders Alder in a top of the table clash and had knocks from Appleton (55) and Sephton (62), to thank for the victory which closes the gap at the top.

ST HELENS welcomed rivals Wigan last Saturday and were asked to bat first by the Wigan skipper.

Neither side were able to get a stranglehold on the game with a couple of partnerships flourishing but then Wigan pegging Saints back with a couple of wickets just as they were looking to take an advantage.

St Helens finished on 192 all out with Darren Tyms continuing his good run scoring 35 and Dave Lowe 26 with Potter, Woods and Friar getting into the teens, but it was a welcome return to form for Sanjay Pandey who held the innings together scoring an excellent 50.

On the resumption St Helens always seemed to have the upper hand and apart from opener Taylor who was the last man out for 93 no-one in the Wigan team put together an innings of substance.

The Saints attack took regular wickets, young opening bowler Hilton again impressed but it was Sanjay Pandey's day taking 6-54 and winning the game for the home side.

A well earned and needed 20 points.

St Helens 2nd XI made the journey to Northop Hall, won the toss and elected to have first use of a good wicket. They reached 195-7 dec with the main contributors being M Finney 56 not out, G Griffiths 45 and J Salleh 30.

St Helens reduced Northop to 20 - 2 before some good batting took Northop home for the loss of only two wickets.

G Fagan was the only wicket taker.

ST Helens Recs travelled the short distance to Orrell Red Triangle on Saturday.

Orrell won the toss and put Recs in to bat which turned out to be the wrong decision as Brown and Lathom ripped the opening bowling apart.

Lathom smashed his way past a half century and was eventually dismissed for 71 with the score on 100.

After a minor wobble Martindale joined Brown at the wicket and when Martindale was out for 39 Recs were in a comfortable position on 173 for 4.

Jenkins finished on 28 not out but Brown's steady innings of 77 not out allowed Recs the luxury of declaring on 244 for 6 from 55 overs. In reply Orrell got off to a terrible start losing their first five wickets with only 30 on the board.

They staged a recovery but when the sixth wicket fell with the score on 90 Recs sensed the victory.

Despite some desperate defence Orrell were eventually dismissed for 138 from 41.5 overs to give Recs the maximum points. The pick of the bowlers were Garvey (2 for 41 from 13), Jenkins (3 for 27 from 9.5) and Chee Quee (3 for 49 from 11).

The 2nd XI played hosts to Maghull and winning the toss elected to bat first. Some poor shot selection meant Recs were soon in trouble and only Gartland (30) offered any resistance to the Maghull attack.

In another Jekyll and Hyde batting performance Recs were eventually dismissed for a disappointing 90 from 34 overs.

In reply Maghull made short work of the task reaching 91 for 3 from 25.1 overs.

Next week Recs 1st XI play hosts to Worsley at Ruskin Drive.