3rds up to second

Rainhill secure 6-wicket victory at Southport Trinity

Southport Trinity 67 (Adam Thorpe 27, Tom Campbell 5; Sam Addy 4-8) Rainhill 68-4 (Sam Waine 22*, Mike Mercer 18*; Tom Campbell 3-13) Rainhill (25 pts) beat Southport Trinity (2 pts) by 6 wickets

Scorecard Rainhill moved back into second place after a solid win over Southport Trinity. The home side won the toss and elected to bat, but opener Chris Morris was out to the first ball of the day when he played a delivery from Paul Millar to Vish Maheshwari who gratefully took the catch. Jeff Rimmer and Adam Thorpe were able to add 37 for the second wicket - with Thorpe playing most of the shots - but their resistance was ended when Thorpe was bowled by Stevie Pennington for 27. Rimmer followed soon afterwards when Millar trapped him lbw for 4. Millar took his third wicket of the afternoon when he bowled captain Tom Campbell for 5 shortly afterwards.

With Southport Trinity struggling on 45 for 4, Mike Mercer and Sam Addy (pictured) were released into the attack. They showed little mercy as they skittled out the home side for just 67 in 28.5 overs. Mercer (2 for 15) and Addy (4 for 8) ripped through the lower order and Rainhill were looking at a very modest target for victory. That is not to suggest that it was easy for the visitors. Vish Maheshwari (1), Ashar Sohail (10) and Panchu Xavier all found themselves victims of Trinity's opening bowler, Tom Campbell. Neil Robinson also fell, lbw to Alan Morris for 8, and Rainhill were at one point on 29 for 4. Rainhill could easily have been rattled by the loss of early wickets but Sam Waine (22 not out) and Mike Mercer (18 not out) played sensibly and skillfully negotiated some good bowling to reach the target without further loss. The result moves Rainhill to second place in the league, 28 points behind leaders Lytham.

Umpires: Matt Yorke

Scorers: Jess Thorpe, David Crossley