Bootle see off New Brighton challenge

New Brighton's hopes of being crowned champions suffered a setback when they lost out in the top of the table clash with Bootle in the Business Assistance Liverpool & District Cricket Competition.

They are now in danger of losing touch with front runners, Bootle and Ormskirk, with the gap stretched to 48 points between them and the leaders.

Matthew Thompson top scored with 71 in the Wirral side's disappointing 135 (46.3 overs) after electing to bat. Mark O'Connor caused the problems with 5-42 and Matty Lawless chipped in with 3-9.

Bootle got home in 26.3 overs by five wickets, Stephen Parry top scoring with 51 not out and Jack Kelliher hitting 33 which included a six over the houses in Wadham Road.

Simon Kerrigan broke through the 50 wicket barrier with 4-49 in Ormskirk's six wicket win over St Helens Recs, who drop to bottom again in the ECB Premier League.

Recs reached 161 after 54.4 overs, Martyn Farrell taking 3-35, but John Armstrong (76) made light of the task, sharing a second wicket stand of 140 with Kerrigan (61).

Adam Phillips celebrated a maiden Competition century as Hightown clinched an excellent four wicket win at Northern. Visiting captain Ian Sutcliffe's 5-71 off 21 overs helped restrict Northern to 188 for nine declared from 60 overs, in which Nick Woods hit 75.

Hightown overcame a poor start as Phillips (100, 9x4s, 3x6s) and Sutcliffe (38) combined to put on 82 for the third wicket en route to victory.

Wallasey have finally escaped the relegation zone after overcoming Maghull with relative ease. It looked a tricky chase as the visitors compiled 211 for nine declared, with captain Niall McDonnell contributing an outstanding 124, including 14 fours and four sixes, and dominating stands of 87 and 82 with Jonathan Ring (22) and Matthew Gillespie (15) respectively.

John Murphy returned 4-39 off 15 overs against his former club. Zeeshan Pervez, a newcomer to Wallasey's ranks made a useful 47, but Alex Eagles (60 not out ) and Mark Wilkie (34 not out) put together an unbroken 85 for the sixth wicket to see them home.

Fleetwood Hesketh made an awful start against Colwyn Bay, crashing to 1 for three in 3.3 overs. Derek Sykes (34) and an unbeaten 42 from Andrew Watts boosted them to 126 from 48 overs after choosing to bat. Patrick Leach (5-39) and Debasis Mohanty, who took 3-10 off 17 overs, did the damage. The Welsh side then stormed home by nine wickets with a stand worth 99 between Sion Morris (73 not out) and Charlie Clubb (37 not out).

Mario Olivier's super spell of 6-25 off 13.1 overs set Prestatyn up for a two wicket win over Lytham, who reached 157 in 46.1 overs after being inserted. Simon Long (47) and Dan Thompson (30) top scored. Morne Williams (33 not out) and Daniel Thomas (32) led the successful chase.