3RD XI MATCH REPORT – 200 PARTNERSHIP BRINGS ORMSKIRK WIN
Saturday saw an improvised 3rd XI visit Sefton Park in the league. With a nightshift and a confusing junction on the M57 delaying the arrival of the Captain, Martin Pickett briefly stepped back into the role to win the toss and put Sefton into bat.
Sefton Park took advantage of a few early misfields and dropped catches, their openers quickly got off to a good start with their openers Walter’s and Jone’s putting on 100 runs for the first wicket. Despite hard working effort’s from Ormskirk’s bowling attack the breakthrough was long in coming before youngster’s Mike Dixon and Dan Bailee eventually began to get in amongst them. Dan Bailee bowled well again taking 3 wickets and Mike Dixon taking 1 wicket in his first over. Gary Taylor again looking tireless running in for 15 overs despite the heat taking 1 wicket. Sefton’s batsmen began to take the game by the scruff of the neck and with Andrew Foulder making an unbeaten ton, Sefton finished their innings looking good, finishing on a daunting 252 for 5 declared after 45 overs. Ormskirk would be hard pressed to convincingly chase down such a high total with limited batting and even more limited time it looked a big ask.
An entertaining tea interval was a welcome relief during which we were all taught the value of the long barrier and the finer points of fielding by Gary ‘I took a catch’ Taylor. With our batting resources looking as stretched as public sector spending, Martin Pickett and Owen Griffiths opened the batting. Pickett hitting six boundaries and again looking well set in the twenties before being bowled for 26. This was however to be Sefton’s only wicket in what was one of the most thrilling run chases seen for a while as Ashley Baldwin (having remembered this week to bring his son) joined Griffiths at the crease.
With Ormskirk now at 46 for 1 with what looked like only 30 overs left in the game it would have been easy to have just shut up shop. All credit to the two batsmen at the crease who remained positive after both getting themselves set they continued to keep up with the run rate and set a good pace. The partnership began to build steadily with Griffiths excellent running between the wickets and some big hitting from Baldwin.
As the last 20 overs approached the target was still 140 runs away and looked a big ask. It was not long however before both bats had brought there 50’s up and Ormskirk crept closer towards the Sefton total. A flurry of boundaries with 5 overs to go brought the target within close reach and both batsmen into the 90’s. With 2 overs to spare Baldwin brought up his well earned 100 with a boundary through the covers. Moments later Baldwin smashed a cover drive for 4 bringing Ormskirk the win.
Owen Griffiths ended on an unbeaten 95* and was unclucky not to make a ton in what was a very mature and brilliant innings for the 14 year old that included twelve 4’s. The 44 year old Baldwin played an equally first rate innings ending up with an unbeaten 104 that included fourteen 4’s and two 6’s. Credit to both batsmen who brought up a mammoth 207* partnership bringing Ormskirk a vital, and against the odds victory, that will be well remembered for a great partnership for a few years to come!