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Captain Deepak Gupta takes 6-33 against Wavertree

Wavertree 163 (Harry Nation 45, Steve Bouckley 31; Deepak Gupta 6-33) Rainhill 26 Wavertree (25 pts) beat Rainhill (5 pts) by 137 runs Scorecard Fourth team captain Deepak Gupta took 6 for 33 at home to Wavertree on Sunday - his best-ever figures for Rainhill.

Gupta's haul proved to be in a losing cause, but what was particularly impressive is that Rainhill were able to bowl out Wavertree for 163 in spite of having only seven players. Ahead of the match, the captain's main concern was to avoid having to concede the match - such are the considerations of 4th team captains. Once the game had started, he set about demolishing the visitors' batting. Such was Gupta's relentless accuracy that of his six victims four were bowled, one lbw and another caught. It was an inspired performance and utterly remarkable in the circumstances. Wavertree's top order all contrbuted runs, with Harry Nation hitting 45 before he was caught and bowled by Don Wallis. However, once Steve Bouckley (31 from 30 deliveries) was out, Wavertree were unable to offer much resistance: they collapsed from 143-3 to 163 all out. Thomas Lewis and Kieran Rose also picked up a wicket apiece, while Wallis collected two. It is perhaps best not to dwell on Rainhill's batting as they were all out for very little, but the main thing was getting a game on to avoid a points deduction. Gupta's six wickets gave Rainhill something to celebrate ahead of Sunday's visit to third-placed Whitefield.