Rainhill Recreationals defeated in excellent T20 game
Ormskirk 139-6 (Josh Bell 30*, Aled Evans 30*; Nathan Lawler 3-24)
Rainhill 86-9 (Ashley Jones 15, Noyal Joseph 10; Josh Bell 1-4) Ormskirk won by 53 runs
Scorecard
Rainhill Recreationals produced an excellent performance in an entertaining T20 encounter at Ormskirk on Wednesday evening.
Taking on an Ormskirk development XI, Rainhill won the toss and opted to field. Rainhill struggled to create chances early on as Josh Bell and Harry Oldfield scored at a healthy rate. Rainhill didn’t concede too many boundaries, but the Ormskirk openers were able to find gaps in the field and excellent running between the wickets yielded rewards.
The home side had taken the score to 74 when Nathan Lawler made the breakthrough, bowling Oldfield. Aled Evans provided some quick runs, hitting 30 from 19 deliveries, but Rainhill were able to take wickets regularly. Lawler picked up the wickets of Harry Graham and Ollie Ferreria, to finish his spell with 3 for 24 (and end the day with seven wickets, as he had taken 4 for 10 in an interleague match hours earlier). Lawler’s second wicket came courtesy of an outstanding catch by debutant Naveen Sharma at cover, which has to be a candidate for the catch of the season.
Anant Sharma bowled Evan Range for 3 to claim his first wicket for the club while Rainhill fielded well and held their catches. Wicketkeeper Kris Duffin held a couple while Melvin Siju caught and bowled Alfie Bell. Siju took two wickets in three balls in the final over as Ormskirk finished on 139 for 6.
It was a decent score given the slow outfield but as the hosts had built their innings on intelligent running rather than big hitting Rainhill felt optimistic they could score at a similar rate.
Unfortunately for the visitors, opener Matt Diggins was out to the first ball he faced but Nathan Lawler and Ashley Jones played sensibly and looked set to build a positive partnership before the former was run out. Kris Duffin and Noyal Joseph provided some resistance and a few punchy shots, but when Joseph was caught and bowled by Alfie Bell Rainhill were on 61 for 5 and the game was over as a contest. Rainhill’s tail was determined to enjoy itself, with Anant Sharma in particular playing an entertaining innings. Alan Hitchmough showed a couple of classy shots of his own, but was run out following an incredible throw from deep backward square.
Rainhill finished on 86 for 9 but captain Andi Page was pleased with how the team performed.
“I was very happy with how we competed against a well-coached and well-organised team who made us work hard”, said Andi. “We don’t get to play at grounds like Ormskirk every week so it great to go out there onto that kind of stage and give a good account of ourselves. I think fitness showed to a degree, but I was pleased by how well we did in the field and especially our bowlers, some of whom bowled well without the reward they deserved.”
Rainhill’s next T20 match will be at Ormskirk Occasionals on Tuesday 22nd August.