Rainhill entertained Ainsdale in the Med Imaging Liverpool & District Cricket Competitions 1st division.

The Ainsdale’s captain elected to bat since he had an international batsman in his lineup.

Wasim Jaffer has scored 5 centuries for India (a double 100 against Australia) and was averaging over 100 in league cricket this year but wasn’t prepared for the Rainhill attack.

When he was clean bowled for 8 by Wilding (1 for 11 from 9) Aindale didn’t know how to react and went into their shell, which wasn’t a good idea against a profession spinner…

Although Rainhill dropped 7 catches and their fielding was well short of its usual standard, Ainsdale were skittled for 105 from 52 overs. Barlow rode his luck with 27 and Qureshi bowled unchanged for his 6 for 36 from 26.

With plenty of overs and Ainsdale only having 2 of their 4 1st team bowlers, Rainhill were confident and got off to the perfect start. At 51 without loss and openers Rotheram (30) and Brown (24) set, only one result was expected.

Complacency set in and an unlikely event was to follow. Rainhill lost 10 wickets for 10 runs and were all out for 61. 7 ducks in one innings is not acceptable. Friar (9 overs 5 for 11) and Mohammed (5 for 28 from 13) did the damage but were assisted by some rash shot selection from the Rainhill batsmen. Rainhill are still 2nd but need to improve to keep in the promotion spot.

Highfield 2nd vs Rainhill 2nd Team.

Rainhill elected to bat and thanks to Irfan (74), OToole (24) and Morris (23) got to162 all out in 52 overs. Cornish (5 for 49 from 18) was the main destroyer in Highfields 8 bowlers. Highfield eased passed the Rainhill total in 37 overs for the loss of 5 wickets. Irfan (10 overs 4 for 36) couldn’t stop Welsby (54), Aspey (32no) and Hewitt (25no) and similar to the Rainhill 1st team, catches weren’t held which was to prove costly.

Rainhill 3rd vs Birkenead St. Marys 3rd.

Only 1 batsmen in the top 5 scored against the Rainhill attack. Fitzmaurice (54) was then joined by 1st teamer Bowe who came in at 6. He bludgeoned his way to 117 no from 66 balls which allowed Birkenhead to get to 247 all out in 37 overs. Rainhill’s catching was poor which let Highfield get from 145 for 9 to 247. In the 102 run last wicket partnership Byrne got an invaluable 10 runs off 12 balls.

Graham (4 for 43 from 10) Ford (2 for 66) and Saha (3 for 49) couldn’t stop the rot.

Burrowes (48) and Saha (41) led the chase with a 2nd wicket 97run partnership but when Rainhill could score quick enough against Black (2 for 20 off 8) and Fitzmaurice (2 for 34 off 11). Rainhill blocked out the last few overs for a draw and ended on 181 for 8.