Seconds shine for Norley Hall as first XI suffer top-of-the-table setback

The first team travelled over to Woolton in Liverpool in a clash of first-versus-second knowing that, while defeat would not end their promotion hopes, a win would give them a buffer at the summit.

When the hosts won the toss, it soon became obvious the pitch was going to be a low and slow type and that scoring would not be easy for the batters out there.

At 28-3 and then 52- 5, it very much looked to be advantage Norley Hall. However, it was clear any chase of above 100 would be difficult.

Old Xaverians were also helped by a poor ground fielding performance from the visitors, with a number of misfields and some, at times, loose bowling .

Ryan Wood was brought back late in the innings to clean up the tail end which he did with aplomb. However, the home team had recovered from 52-5 to make 127 all out in 51.5 overs.

Wood was the pick of the bowlers with 4-35 while Callam Hughes took 2-34, Liam Martlew 1-9, Robert Collier 1-30 and Callum Martlew 1-6.

Openers Colin Parrott and Alex Martlew put on 34 for the first wicket. However, when the former’s dismissal was quickly followed by Callum Martlew and Shah Afridi to leave Norley Hall 35-3.

Alex Martlew and Matthew Hayes stabilised the situation. However, when Hayes was caught behind attempting a late cut, it triggered an even bigger collapse than the first one, as 61-3 became 73-9.

Wood, with dogged support from Collier, tried his best to salvage the situation, and the total required became less than 20, before Wood was caught at extra cover.

And the Norley innings came to an end on 108 all out in only 43.5 overs, Wood capping a fine all-round performance with 35 and Alex Martlew top-scoring with an excellent 42.

Norley Hall - who host Cheshire Lines on Saturday - remain second in the league with two games to go, but only six points separate the top three now, and half of the division could still be promoted.

Back at City Road, the second team welcomed Prestatyn, and Harry Singh (30) helped to get the hosts innings off to a good start after the visitors won the toss.

At 56-3, Haroon Naseri (67 from 36 balls) and Ishy Ahmedji (50) continued their fine form of recent weeks as they put on a fourth-wicket partnership of 124.

When they both fell with the score on 180, then Mo Kapadia (34 not out from 22 balls) saw the hosts declare on 234-7 in 35 overs.

In reply, it looked as though the teams season long Achilles Heel of being able to take 10 wickets when bowling second would again be an issue as the game looked to be meandering out to a draw.

However, the introduction of the bustling pace of Edward Hurst and the left arm spin of Kapadia saw key wickets fall, and skipper Keiron Ashcroft took the last four wickets as Norley Hall won by 99 runs.

Ashcoft had figures of 4-4 from only 13 balls, Hurst took 2-23, Kapadia 1-8, Naseri 1-24 and Abrar Khan 1-37.