4ths make encouraging start

New team show promise in defeat to Merseyside Commonwealth

Rainhill 142

Merseyside Commonwealth 146-1

Merseyside Commonwealth won by 9 wickets Rainhill's newly established 4th team started life against a strong Merseyside Commonwealth 3rd XI in its inaugural fixture on Sunday.

With the sun shining and the wind blowing, Rainhill won the toss and captain Deepak Gupta chose to bat first. The opening pair, Vishwas Maheshwari and Motsim Khan, were quickly separated when the former was bowled by a virtually unplayable leg cutter and dismissed for 5. Khan was then joined by Panchu Xavier and the pair put together an impressive partnership. Xavier went first after notching up an important 27 but Khan showed patience, maturity and skill to stick around and add some much needed runs. Mike Mercer also showed patience and skill, getting himself in then displaying some impressive, hard-hitting shots before he was finally stumped on 52.

There were contributions all the way down the batting order. Josh Hughes hit a classy four to square leg before being dismissed for 5 courtesy of a top edge, while Dom Wallis contributed a valuable 20. Rainhill were all out for 142 after 40 overs.

Merseyside and Commonwealth looked a formidable side and proved as much by convincingly winning the match by 9 wickets. However, Mike Mercer looked ferocious with the new ball and Maheshwari chalked up an impressive economy rate, conceding just 10 runs from his 6 overs. Dom Wallis bowled superbly and was twice unlucky in his first two overs – a catch was put down at cover was followed by a difficult caught and bowled opportunity. Deepak Gupta also bowled a good spell before bringing on Charley Partington, who fielded athletically, and Sarah Curlett who bowled effectively.

Unfortunately it was not to be Rainhill's day but there were many positives that the team will take forward into their next league match away to Sefton Park. All in all, it ws an encouraging performance from the 4th team.

Many thanks to Matt Lawler for the match report.