Highfield v Ormskirk Match report 2-9-18

It was back to winning ways for Ormskirk as they secured an emphatic win over Highfield to maintain their place in second position of the Premier League.

Ormskirk won the toss and elected to bat.

A new opening partnership of Alex Rankin and John Armstrong set the innings off on a very strong footing, putting on 160 runs before Alex Rankin (86) lost his wicket, caught and bowled by James Taylor. Up to his dismissal he had played a fine innings and looked every bit a seasoned opening batsmen despite his relative inexperience. His movement up the order to open the innings did not phase him one bit, and it was a great pity that he did not go on to make his maiden First XI century. Those who watched his innings have no doubt that it won’t be long before he scores his first ‘ton’.

Andy Baybutt, who had normally been opening the innings came in at number 3 to join John Armstrong. That partnership did not last long as John Armstrong (67) was caught with the score on 166. His innings confirmed what a fine batsman he still is.

The third wicket went down one run later when George Lavelle (1) was bowled by James Taylor to bring in Gary Knight (31*) to join Andy Baybutt (38*), a partnership that prospered to produce 69 runs.

With the score on 236-3 the innings was declared leaving Highfield with a difficult challenge ahead.

In the Highfield reply success came early for Ormskirk as they had two wickets down with only 9 runs on the board. Scott Lees was responsible for both, bowling Sohaib Shah (1) and Ovais Shah (0).

The score progressed to 45 when Ryan Maddock took his first wicket, having Michael Gaskell (21) caught by John Armstrong. He took his second wicket when he had Ryan Hargreaves (24) caught by Tom Hartley to take the score to 54-4.

From when Ryan Hargreaves departed the action it was all downhill for Highfield as wickets fell rapidly. Ryan Maddock took two further wickets as did Scott Lees, with Tom Hartley and Alex Mason helping themselves to one each.

The match came to an end after 40.3 overs when Highfield were bowled out for 93. Ormskirk had won by a margin of 143 runs.

It was a good all-round team performance but it was Alex Rankin who, with his fine innings of 86 runs, earned the right to be nominated as ‘Man of the Match’ over the strong claims of Scott Lees and Ryan Maddock.