1st XI Match Report v Formby 22-4-17

Ormskirk’s league campaign off to a winning start.

To be drawn against Formby away for the opening league game of the season looked to be about as tough as it could get but it turned out to be ‘a stroll in the park’ as Ormskirk thrashed the home team by a resounding 8 wicket margin.

Formby who finished as last year’s Premier League runners up, ahead of Ormskirk in third place, won the toss and elected to bat. They were unaware that they were to face an opening bowling attack, in Nick Caunce and Scott Lees, that was on fire from the outset. Before they knew what had happened they were 4 wickets down with just 21 runs on the board. Caunce and Lees struck with devastating opening spells taking two wickets apiece. The only respite for Formby was for a short spell after Lees opening spell when Formby’s overseas player Daniel Stanley took it on himself to rectify the position by attacking the bowling of Josh Bohannon with such ferocity that the score rocketed to a modicum of respectability. However, when it had reached 72-3 the spirited reply came to and end when Nicky Caunce began his second spell and brilliantly caught and bowled Stanley’s partner Ben Aichison. The writing was on the wall in that, with the top order batsmen back in the pavilion, Formby were going to struggle to establish a challenging total. This became more apparent when Caunce took another wicket to leave the New Zealander, Stanley, as the only recognized batsman left. Simon Kerrigan, who had kept the batting quiet while Caunce rampaged at the other end, had the stubborn Stanley caught behind by George Lavelle. With Kerrigan and Tom Hartley mopping up the tail, the Formby innings ended on a very modest 95 all out.

The Ormskirk reply was to knock off the required runs in just 20 overs, with Andy Baybutt (48) and Josh Bohannon (35*) confidently and competently dealing with the Formby attack. The game was over in double quick time, leaving the Ormskirk supporters, based on the day’s performance, able to look forward with great optimism to the season ahead.

The only possible downside to the Ormskirk performance was some rather sloppy fielding which somewhat enhanced the Formby total, meagre that it was. Otherwise it was a 5 star performance with Nicky Caunce (4-27) a clear “Man of the Match.”

Next Saturday Ormskirk entertain Southport & Birkdale at Brook Lane, starting at 1pm