Bootle match ends in draw
David Atkinson top-scores with 41
Rainhill 190-8 (David Atkinson 41, Mike Rotheram 29; Jamie Siddall 2-20) Bootle 132-6 (Toby Lester 37*, Ben Saunders 28; Jamie Harrison 2-41) Rainhill (6pts) drew with Bootle (6pts)
Rainhill’s first team secured a draw at home to Bootle with solid performances with the bat and in the field.
While the result will be frustrating for the home side, who looked on course for a win until a defiant seventh wicket partnership between Bootle’s Scott Butterworth and Toby Lester, Rainhill will be pleased to have responded positively after two successive league defeats.
With only one change from the team that lost to Formby last week – Mike Rotheram returning in place of Jack Lowrie – Rainhill were put into bat by the visitors. Openers James Clarke and Tyler McGladdery got themselves in but were unable to build a big score and were out for 17 and 12 respectively. Ross Higham was out for 10, caught by Jamie Siddall off the bowling of Jhangar Liaqat, and when captain Ben Edmundson was run out by Cyril Paul Rainhill were on 76 for 4.
After Sam Kershaw was bowled by Scott Butterworth for 29, Mike Rotheram and David Atkinson came together. Atkinson (pictured) was particularly direct in his approach, hitting seven boundaries on his way to 41. A promising innings from Rotheram was ended on 29 when Vishal Tripathi found a way through to his pads.
When Rotheram’s wicket fell, Rainhill had moved on to 165 for 8. Simon Brown (16) and Liam O’Toole (14) helped the home side reach 190 without further loss.
Bootle didn’t look like they were going to reach their target of 191, especially when openers Will Hale and Vishal Tripathi were out quickly. When Tyler McGladdery held a catch to dismiss Daniel Davies for 10 the visitors were on 38 for 3. Ben Saunders and Toby Lester rose to the challenge and played positively, but Saunders’ defiance was ended on 28 by the spin of Peter Kelly. Shortly afterwards Jamie Siddall was bowled by Jamie Harrison for 4, bringing captain Neil Williams to the crease.
Williams made 12 before being deceived by a delivery from McGladdery, which clattered into his stumps. McGladdery’s first wicket of the season had reduced Bootle to 94 for 6 and Rainhill sensed the opportunity for a morale-boosting victory against a team sitting fourth in the table. Butterworth and Lester, however, had other ideas and held out against some determined Rainhill bowling to earn the draw.
Next week Rainhill travel to league leaders Northern.
Umpires: Martin James, Craig Parkinson Scorers: Andrew Finney, Alan Majewska Match ball sponsor: Black Swan Tax