Rainhill CC U13s 69/8 (Maheshwari 19, Nulty 15; Marshall 3-0)
Wavertree CC U13s 70/0 (13.1) (Giby 31*; Saxena 31*)
Thursday 24th April 2025 marked the return of junior cricket at Rainhill, as the U13s took to the field in the opening round of the Liverpool Competition Junior League – Under 13 LCF Knockout Qualifiers.
With a couple of new players and some making their way up from U11s last season, this fixture against a well-drilled Wavertree side was always going to be a challenging test—and so it proved.
Having won the toss, Rainhill elected to bat first on home turf. The innings saw some encouraging moments, particularly from Ayaan Maheshwari, who top-scored with a composed 19 from 25 balls, and Alf Nulty, who added a confident 15. Rainhill debutant James Tigwell also chipped in with a valuable 9.
Despite these contributions, wickets fell regularly under pressure from Wavertree’s sharp bowling attack, and Rainhill closed on 69-8 from 20 overs.
Wavertree’s bowlers showed great control and consistency.
Defending a modest total, Rainhill’s bowlers stuck to their task admirably. Though wickets proved elusive, there were positive signs across the attack, including tidy and economical spells from Sarah Lawler (3-0-10-0) and Ayaan Maheshwari (2-0-9-0).
Wavertree’s opening pair, however, were in fine form—Adrian Giby and Samidh Saxena both retired on 31 after dispatching anything loose, steering their side to 70 without loss in 13.1 overs.
A standout moment came in the very first over of Wavertree’s innings.
In the field, Rainhill almost had the perfect start when Annabelle Clifford leapt high to reach a powerful shot above her head in the first over. She got her fingers to it, parried it, and very nearly pulled off a stunning catch to dismiss the Wavertree opener. It would’ve been an absolute worldy – but it wasn’t to be on this occassion.
While Rainhill’s overall fielding left room for improvement—with a few missed opportunities and moments of inexperience—there is plenty to be encouraged by. This group showed good energy and a willingness to compete. With more matches to come and time to develop as a unit, the signs for the future remain bright.
Full credit to Wavertree, who delivered a polished all-round performance and deserved their place in the next round.
For Rainhill, this match provided a valuable learning experience, and with the season only just beginning, there’s every reason to believe this group will grow stronger with each game. We look forward to seeing their progress in the weeks ahead.
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