THE top of the table clash, second vs first, saw Rainhill 1st team triumphant against Birkenhead but they made hard work of it.

Birkenhead elected to bat but had their top order ripped out by the seam from Williams (3 for 32) and Veacock (1 for 11).

Although their top order kept out Qureshi, losing wickets at the other end wasn’t in their script.

At 37 for 4 Qureshi relentless line and length was to get its reward and Birkenhead collapsed to 64 for 9. Lui (42) was joined by Harris and they defended by attacking everything.

Harris’s undefeated 53 coming from 44 balls allowed Birkenhead to get to 147 all out from 45 overs and left Rainhill regretting dropped catches.

Qureshi finishing with 5 for 48 from 22. Rainhill got off to a steady start but lost four quick wickets in a couple of overs. It could have been 38 for 5 but a dropped catch by gulley gave Qureshi an extra life and allowed him to go on to get 33. When he was joined by Ford, (52no).

Their partnership was vital to Rainhill’s success and they passed the target in 40 overs for the loss of 6 wicket. Houghton bowled unchanged for his 4 for 51 from 20.

Rainhill seconds travelled to Ainsdale and elected to bat.

Yate (34) and Storey (29) led the way and Rainhill declared on 208 for 9 from 55.

Ainsdale got off to a flier and were 50 without loss due mainly to the aggression from Lucas (63) which was continued by Fazakerley who hit 35 from 30 balls. At 153 for 5, Ainsdale were still ahead of the run rate and had victory in their sight.

O’Toole (2 for 52 from 12) and Storey (2 for 34 from 7) kept interrupting the Ainsdale chase but it was Edmundson that ended with the best figures.

He mopped up the last five wickets and his 6 for 85 ended the Ainsdale innings and they fell 12 short on 196 all out.

Rainhill 3rd v Southport and Birkdale 4th: A strong S & B side elected to bat on the Rainhill “shirt fronter” and amassed 233 for 2 in 40 overs. Coverley (107no) and Skelton (56) put on 144 for the 1st wicket and punished all Rainhill bowlers when short or wide.

Burrowes (61) and Banergee (21) led the chase with a 50 run opening partnership but the next 5 wickets fell for only an additional 50 runs.

Ford (66) tried to keep ahead of the rate but when he was out, the writing was on the wall. Rainhill got close but ended on 222 all out in 44 overs. Hollyman 4 for 21 off 9 being the pick of the S & B bowlers.