Bootle tee up title

Bootle stayed on track for a third successive Business Assistance Liverpool and District title with a comfortable 139-run win over Southport and Birkdale.

Craig Prince (60), Stephen Parry (50) and skipper Ian Cockbain (50) put on an entertaining display of strokeplay to take Bootle to 225 for six declared after 35.3 overs, Justin Labuschagne taking 3-62.

With Patrick Jackson scoring 31 and Peter Coverley 22, there wasn't much else as the Sandgrounders collapsed to 86 after 32.2 overs, Parry having figures of 3-19.

New Brighton moved into second place after beating Lytham for the eighth time in nine meetings at Rake Lane, this time by 19 runs.

Martyn Evans began a successful match by scoring 69 not out. With valuable contributions from Buddhika Fernando (35) and Matty Thompson (32), New Brighton declared at 191 for seven from 50.5 overs. Guy Roberts (75 not out) held the Lytham innings together but with Evans taking 4-41 and Nazir Mohammed 3-46, they were all out for 172 (45.3 overs).

Losing time to rain meant Ormskirk had to be content with just seven points at Fleetwood Hesketh and a drop to third place, 12 points behind New Brighton.

Winning the toss, Ormskirk were in trouble at 62 for five before Ian Robinson (80) and skipper Adam Waterhouse (46) added 93 runs. Nick Caunce's unbeaten 31 took the total to 221 for eight after 54.3 overs. Spinner Andy Davies bowled 24.3 overs, taking 6-89. Hesketh in reply lost two wickets for 33 before Derek Sykes (35) and Kasun Bodhisha (72) added 107. At 163 for five (41.5 overs) rain intervened and play was stopped for the day.

Northern kept up their quest for a Lancashire Knockout place next season after securing 20 points at Maghull for whom Niall McDonnell was playing his last match before taking up a new post in Kenya.

James Cole, back after suspension, led the visitors batting with 91. Nick Woods (33) and Jack Boardman (30 not out) enabled Phil Cooper to declare at 223 for seven (57.2 overs), Suwanji Madanayake taking 3-66. With just two runs to his credit, McDonnell ended his campaign with 854, but Maghull remain in thirteenth place after being dismissed for 76, Nick Woods (4-32) and Phil Cooper (3-12) doing the damage.

Colwyn Bay's match with Wallasey at Penrhyn Avenue was full of ups and downs before the Welsh side ended up winners by three wickets.

Paul Jenkins (5-44) and Debasis Mohanty (3-26) reduced the Wirral side to 107 for eight before John Murphy reached the crease. Another wicket fell without addition to the total but then Murphy hit 31 not out as Wallasey were eventually dismissed for 143 (44 overs).

The Bay began their innings disastrously with six wickets falling for 32. Play had advanced to 89 for seven when Jenkins, then on nine, skied a ball directly to Murphy on the boundary's edge. The fielder took the catch but in doing so, stepped on the rope. To rub salt into the wound, Jenkins then hit the next ball for four so in the space of two balls, a possible 89 for eight had become 99 for seven. Jenkins went on to hit 51 not out and added a match winning 83 for the eighth wicket with Mitchell van Wyk (62 not out).

Prestatyn declared on 192 for nine from 54.3 overs after being put in at Hightown, Ali Taylor hitting 46 and Haydn Williams 40 with Tony Symondson (3-25) and Ian Sutcliffe (3-55). Almost an hour's play was lost to rain and it ended with Hightown on the rack at 74for seven (31 overs).

Bottom club St Helens Recs chose to bat against Formby at Ruskin Drive. Steve Dutton took 5-41 in 22 overs as Recs were dismissed for 113 (47 overs). Dave Hadden (29), Jay Francis (27) and Graeme Morris (28 not out) guided Formby to a six wicket win after 40.4 overs (Gary Freeman 3-49) and a rise to seventh in the table.