Rainhill Academy XI 194-3 dec (Nathan Lawler 100*, Sid Ram 29; Peter Roots 1-20)
Liverpool 3XI SL 193 all out (Paul Sawbridge 86, Peter Roots 30; Nathan Lawler 5-26, Tejas Sirikonda 3-35)
On a warm, sunny day, in a showcase of skill and determination, Rainhill Cricket Club’s newly formed Academy XI, comprising the club’s promising juniors, delivered a stunning performance against Liverpool CC’s Sunday 3XI (SL) at the Rainhill CC Ground.
After months of dedicated training, honing their batting, bowling, and fielding skills, Rainhill’s young talents took to the field with confidence and unity, ready to make their mark in senior cricket.
After losing the toss and being put in to bat, Rainhill’s innings got off to a solid start, with openers Nathan Lawler and Sid Ram forming a strong partnership. They both showed remarkable maturity, playing clever cricket, rotating the strike and taking singles without taking risks. They managed to rack up 111 runs in their opening partnership before Sid was bowled out for 29.
Nathan Lawler stole the show with a stellar performance, notching his first half-century and then going on to achieve a maiden century not out.
His unbeaten knock of 100 runs, peppered with 10 boundaries, was a testament to his skill and determination.
Rainhill declared their innings at 194 for the loss of 3 wickets after 47 overs, setting a challenging target for Liverpool CC.
In response, Liverpool CC’s batting lineup faced a stern test against Rainhill’s bowlers, who were eager to defend their total. Nathan Lawler, in an exceptional all-round display, claimed 5 wickets with the ball, including the crucial wicket of Paul Sawbridge, who was set on 86 and leading the charge for Liverpool. Nathan Lawler clean bowled the set batter, swinging the momentum in Rainhill’s favour.
Tejas Sirikonda bowled superbly, taking 3 wickets. The ball was swinging and seaming, and his second spell was even better than his first, finishing with figures 9-1-35-3.
In the field, the hard work over winter paid off. Owen Morrissey took a spectacular diving catch off the bowling of Harry Ball, and Keiran Rose and Tejas Sirikonda also took excellent catches, all of which added to the excitement of the match.
With the final ball of the innings to be bowled, the draw, tie, and win for either team were still available outcomes, making for an exhilarating and intense conclusion for all watching and playing.
This match was an all-round excellent team performance for Rainhill 4XI, highlighting their potential and determination to excel in senior cricket. With Nathan Lawler’s outstanding century and 5-wicket haul, Rainhill’s rising stars have set a high standard for the season ahead.
