Rainhill fall short after batting failure (From St Helens Star)

Rainhill fall short after batting failure

12:51pm Thursday 9th August 2012 in Sport

RAINHILL paid the price for a batting crash at Fleetwood Hesketh.

The visitors elected to bat on the green Fleetwood wicket and were under the cosh from the first over.

At 27 for 4 the home team had a tight grip on victory.

Although it was a seamer’s wicket, the left arm spin from Malik proved critical as his 4 for 30 from 23 overs kept things tight.

When the aggressive Veacock (56) joined Rotheram, their 92 run fifth-wicket partnership gave Rainhill confidence.

When Rotheram was out for his hard-fought 49 and the last five batsmen only made 12 runs, Rainhill crashed to 154 all out.

Neither Fleetwood opener could handle the spin of Qureshi though.

However Watts (31), Malik (35no) and Allison (18no) helped Fleetwood pass the Rainhill total for the loss of five wickets. Qureshi finished with 2 for 60 from 20 overs.

Rainhill’s seconds were inserted by Old Xaverians and took full advantage of wayward bowling.

Opener Morris was undefeated on 94 when Rainhill declared after 45 overs.

He was supported by Yate (43no) and Tilley (28), with Rainhill reaching 195 for 4.

P Morris took 4 for 59, supported by Gannon 2 for 19 from 11 and I Morris 2 for 8.

Old Xav’s finished on 118 all out from 45 overs.