Ormskirk enjoyed a fruitful week of cup cricket

Jun 11 2009 Ormskirk Advertiser

Ormskirk enjoyed a successful weekend of cup cricket as Saturday’s league fixture at Northop Hall was abandoned due to a flooded pitch.

A skilful half century from Ian Robinson and three wickets each for Simon Kerrigan and Phil Unsworth proved too much for Wallasey in the Echo Cup on Friday evening.

While a superb knock of 80 by skipper Adam Waterhouse and 56 from John Armstrong eased the Blue and Gold past Walkden in the Lancashire Knockout on Sunday.

The 2006 and 2007 Echo Cup champions had a point to prove on Friday after Wallasey had claimed a last ball win in the league fixture at Brook Lane last month.

An opening partnership of 62 between Robinson and Matt Glayzer (30) ensured Ormskirk made an explosive start on their way to 161 off their 20 overs.

Robinson’s knock of 52 included eight boundaries as the right hander thrived in his new role at the top of the order.

Matt Morgan (19), Nicky Caunce (20) and John Armstrong (27*) maintained the scoring rate once Robinson had departed leaving the home side a considerable target to chase.

Wallasey’s batsmen never looked like mounting a serious challenge as three early wickets for Unsworth, including Australian batsman Mitchell Cook, and one wicket for Caunce, reduced them to 56 for 4.

And when Simon Kerrigan removed John Pugh, the hero of Wallasey’s last gasp win at Brook Lane, the chances of a successful run chase all but disappeared and they were all out for 112 in the 18th over.

Revenge was also the order of the day when Adam Waterhouse’s men faced Walkden on Sunday as the Bolton League club had ended Ormskirk’s Lancashire Knockout cup run last season.

Skipper Waterhouse led from the front with a superb 80 runs after Glayzer and Robinson had set a solid platform with another 50 opening partnership.

Ormskirk had slipped to 101 for 4 at one stage after Matt Morgan was given out caught after the ball had appeared to have hit the ground and Simon Kerrigan had succumbed to New Zealand bowler Greg Hay.

But Armstrong and Waterhouse shared a 98 run partnership for the 5th wicket taking Ormskirk up past the 200 mark with the skipper eventually being run out off the final ball of the innings.

In reply, Walkden’s chances of chasing down the total were shattered as an impressive spell of 5 overs 1 wicket for 5 runs from Nicky Caunce pegged the away side back. Waterhouse then topped his performance by running out Hay (38) with a direct hit before Unsworth (4 for 13) and Mark Jenkins (3 for 33) demolished Walkden’s middle and lower order.

Shaun Brocken’s 2nd XI claimed a crucial victory over Northop Hall on Saturday (Northop Hall 173/9, Gavin Griffiths 5 for 20 – Ormskirk 174/3, Sam Illingworth 75, Scott Meredith 44*) while the 3rd XI lost at home to Maghull (Maghull 145/5 dec, Ashley Baldwin 3-57, Andrew Cropper 2-15 – Ormskirk 111 all out)

This weekend, Ormskirk will be hoping their cup form can be transferred into improved performances in the league as they face Formby at Brook Lane on Saturday.

The following day they travel to Hyde in the National Knockout.

1st XIŠv Formby (Home) ,Meet 11:45 Start 13:00 - A Waterhouse (Capt), M Morgan (W/K), J Armstrong, P Armstrong, N Caunce, M Farrell, JŠGlayzer, M Glayzer, M Jenkins, S Kerrigan, I Robinson

1st XI vŠHyde National Knockout (Sunday) (Away)ŠMeetŠTBC

C Smith and P Unsworth replace M Morgan and M Farrell

2nd XI vŠFormby (Away), Meet 12:00 Start 13:45 - S Brocken (Capt), O Gallagher (W/K), J Barnes, G Griffiths, E Hall, J Illingworth, S Illingworth, J Kaye, S Meredith, A Sharrock, C Smith

2nd XI vŠHighfield Chester Cup (Sunday) (Home), Meet 12:15 Start 13:30

ŠK Burns, L Brocken, A Clews and D Unsworth replace G Griffiths, C Smith, S Meredith and J Barnes

3rd XI vŠBirchfield ParkŠ(Away), Meet 12:30 Start 13:45 - M Pickett (Capt), R Dickinson (W/K), A Baldwin, A Berry, L Brocken, A Cropper, M Leigh, J Perry, G Roberts, D Unsworth, D Whittaker