Ormskirk fight to stay in touch

Ormskirk had to produce a miraculous recovery to beat Hightown and stay in touch with Bootle, the leaders of the Business Assistance (NW) Liverpool and District Cricket Competition after they crumbled to 11 for four.

Skipper Adam Waterhouse (70) and Martyn Farrell (22) came together with the score on 88 for nine and took Ormskirk's total to 143 from 52.2 overs with Nathan Heathcliff-Core taking 5-34 from 17 overs.

In reply, only Iain Sutcliffe showed any resilience as Hightown fell away to 111 (Neil Wagner 5-42).

Bootle had little to fear from Maghull after their depressing run of five straight defeats, which places them firmly in relegation territory.

The champions were restricted to 155 by Ryan Swiers (5-59, 14 overs) and Suwanji Madanayake (4-49, 20.4) with David Snellgrove making 33 and Craig Prince 31.

But Maghull could not cope with Lancashire's Steve Parry (4-55) and Oliver Newby (3-20), who was making his début, and were dismissed for 114.

The race to avoid relegation is as intense as the battle for league honours as Maghull, St Helens Rec, Formby and Wallasey all do their best in the coming weeks to stay up.

The abandonment of bottom club St Helens Recreation CCs' game with Southport and Birkdale did not help their cause while Formby collapsed to 56 all out against Lytham in 35.3 overs with Michael Rigby earning competition best figures of 7-20 from 17.3 overs. They reduced their guests to 39-6 but then completed a four wicket win.

Prestatyn won at home against Wallasey thanks to a leg bye off the last ball. Captain John Pugh (80) and Kuran Makol (33) were the top scorers for Wallasey in a total of 186 (62.5) while Mario Olivier took 4-38 and Ben Williams 4-57.

Prestatyn captain and opener Morne Williams (84 not out) led the successful chase with Chris Bourne returning 3-82.