Report and photos: Peter Rogan

Ormskirk won the toss and elected to bat.

Opening batsmen Alex Rankin and Tyler McGladdery got the innings off to a great start, putting on a stand of 71. The loss of both Rankin (42) and MacGladdery (37) brought in George Lavelle and Gary Knight to share a third wicket partnership of 87 runs. It was broken when Knight (38) was caught behind the wicket by Northern captain James Cole. Ian Robinson (14*) joined George Lavelle (72*) to bring the 40 overs innings to a close at 222-3. All the Ormskirk batsmen had played very well with the outstanding contribution coming from George Lavelle.

The Northern opening reply was on a par with Ormkirk’s, with the opening partnership of Liam Grey and Taylor Cornell putting on 71 runs. It was broken when Nicky Cauce trapped Grey (39) lbw and the second wicket fell, with the score on 86, to Ryan Maddock who had Chris Lake (2) caught behind by George Lavelle.

A third wicket stand of 74 then developed to take the score to 160-3 when, at which point, the balance of the game changed dramatically in favour of Ormskirk. In three successive balls three wickets were taken. Jamie Barnes bowled Chris Brownlow (30) and with his next delivery, to complete the over, bowled Daniel Houghton (0). Scott Lees then stepped in with the first ball of his over to claim the vital wicket of Taylor Cornell (81). The score had gone from 160-2 to 160-5 in three balls.

Northern never recovered as two further wickets fell to Scott Lees, and the innings closed 193-7 giving victory to Ormskirk by 29 runs.

This great team performance has earned a place in the last 16 of the National Club Championship with a home game against Cuckney CC.