Win takes First XI to the Top of the Premier League Table

Ormskirk won the toss and elected to bat.

Things got off to a good start when John Armstrong and Andy Baybutt put on 61 runs for the first wicket, before Andy (30) was bowled by Rainhill’s overseas player Ackshay Derekar.

When Josh Bohannon joined John Armstrong , the run rate rapidly increased.

John was in tremendous form and, showing no respect for the bowling, peppered the boundary with every shot in the book. He deservedly reached the century mark and went on to score 112, to include eleven 4s and four 6s. His departure left the total score on 202-2.

Josh continued his innings to make an undefeated 86 runs. He had looked almost certain to join John as a century-maker when the innings was declared on 258 -3. His partner, Gary Knight, who had replaced George Lavelle (1), was 25 not out.

To score 259 to win was a ‘big ask’ for the Rainhill batsmen and looked even bigger when Scott Lees claimed the first wicket with his second delivery of the opening over, by bowling Mike Rotherham (0).

Nicky Caunce got in on the act when he took two quick wickets to leave the home side struggling on 63-3.

It was, however, the introduction of Tom Hartley into the attack which really put Ormskirk in the driving seat when he captured the wicket of star batsman, Tyler McGladdery (50), having him caught by Gary Knight taking the score to 84-4.

After the 5th wicket fell to the bowling of Josh Bohannon, the game turned into the “Tom Hartley Show”. The batsmen simply couldn’t handle him and he rattled through the lower order batting to finish with figures 6-25 off 8.5 overs.

Rainhill were all out for 140 and Ormskirk had won by a margin of 118 runs to earn 25 points and see themselves sitting very happily at the top of the table for the first time this season.

It was John Armstrong’s fine batting performance, in laying the foundation for the win, that made him Ormskirk’s “Man of the Match”, just above the other two close contenders, Josh Bohannon and Tom Hartley, both of whom had played brilliantly.