RAINFORD strangely elected to bat on Rainhill's green, damp, soft wicket and were in trouble from the first ball. They had no game plan against the spin of Qureshi.

The ‘survival only’ attitude did not work and wickets fell regularly. Captain Farrar (29) showed some application but was not supported but the top order.

The Rainford tail wagged with a 30 run partnership from Williams (17) at 9 and Houghton (12) at 10, but it was in vain as Qureshi also got through their defences.

Qureshi finished with 8 for 34 from 21 overs and Rainford ended their innings on 109 all out in 55 overs.

Although Rainhill held nine catches, it would have been a lot worse for Rainford if all catches were clung on to.

Rainhill lost both openers cheaply to the off spin from Davies (3 for 44 from 15) but then McGladdery (26), Kershaw (21) and Edmundson (40no) shown the visitors how to play spin and Rainhill passed their target in 30 overs losing 5 wickets in the process.

Rainford 2nd vs Rainhill 2nd

In the reverse fixture, Rainford were inserted on the wet Jubilee Ground wicket and couldn’t cope with the variable bounce. Poppers and rollers made it difficult to bat on and the efforts from Veacock (4 for 45 from 13) and Bromhead (3 for 45 from 19) ripped out the top 4 with none getting into double figures. Dalrymple then attacked everything and lost a few balls in his quickfire 37.

Rainford batted on after tea and Clyne (42) and Harrison (7) added 54 for the last wicket before Rainford were all out for 184 in 52 overs.

Rainhill mixed defence with aggression and a quick 47 from Veacock put impetus into the chase. This was continued with a 107 run partnership from Brown (66) and Higham (45) and the chase seemed to be timed to perfection but when Andy Harrison got both in quick succession, the mood changed. Rainhill needed 10 from the last over and with all Rainford fielders on the boundary, (including the keeper), rather than ‘tap and run’ 2’s, Rainhill tried to hit boundaries and they finished 1 short on 183 for 5 from 37 overs.

Rainhill 3s vs Springview 3s: Rainhill were 67 for 2 from 21 overs when heavy rain ended the game. Fitzhenry (28no) and Smith (20no) were ‘set’ but couldn’t finish.

Newton le Willows 1st vs Rainhill 1st (Sun KO)

Rainhill were 103 for 3 from 25 overs when heavy rain ended the game. Kennedy (35) and McGladdery (25) leading the way against the Newton attack. Fixture is now changed to a T20 on Thursday of Friday.