Report and photos: Peter Rogan

For the first home game of the season against Leigh, both teams lined up for a minute of silence in memory of memberswho had lost their lives during the Pandemic and, as a further mark of respect, the Ormskirk team played the gamewearing black armbands.

Having won the toss Ormskirk elected to field; the first two wickets fell with only one run on the board with Josh Thompson grabbing the first wicket when he had TomGrundy (1) caught by Harvey Rankin. Scott Lees followed to take the second wicket with 12 runs added when he had theLeigh captain, Paul Farrar (12) well caught by John Armstrong to bring in the experienced and talented MatthewMcKeirnan who attacked the bowling regularly hitting the boundary to reach his half century in double quick time.

While batting at the other end Sam Dorsey played a purely supportive roll. The score moved on to 79 when Scott Lees took hissecond wicket to have Sam Dorsey (5) caught behind by Gary Knight. With his next ball,he took the wicket of AdamShallcross (0) having him trapped lbw to leave him with the prospect of following in the footsteps of Jamie Barnes torecord Ormskirk’s second hat-trick of the season.

That was not to be but the Ormskirk inroads into the Leigh batting lineup was highly satisfactory with the score 4 wickets down for a modest 79.When Jamie Barnes was brought into the action he met with success taking the wicket of Darren Low (3) assisted by anexcellent stumping by Gary Knight.

Mathew McKiernan was still at the crease as Leigh’s total passed the 100 mark buthis innings came to an end, courtesy of Jamie Barnes, when Jamie trapped him lbw, having scored 79 runs off 58 ballsto include thirteen 4s and two 6s. It was the big breakthrough that Ormskirk needed.

The next partnership, between Finn Hulbert and ex-Ormskirk player Alex Mason, yielded a further 16 runs when it wasbroken by Jamie Barnes when he took the wicket of Alex Mason (8) having him caught behind by Gary Knight. The scorewent to 119-7 and quickly progressed to 120-8 when Harvey Rankin dismissed Matthew Hibbert (0) having him caughtbehind.

It looked likely that Leigh would be bowled out for less than 150 but that was not to be the case.With the total having advanced to 153 Josh Thompson was brought back into the attack and took the wicket of FinnHulbert (40) having him caught by Jamie Barnes.

A stubborn last wicket partnership between Paddy Allan (11*) and Zac Donahue (10) took the score along to 170 whenScott Lees took his fourth wicket of the innings having Zac Donahue (10) caught behind.All the bowers took wickets with Scott Lees topping the list with 4-65 and the fielding was top rate with seven catchesbeing taken.

The Ormskirk reply was opened with Alex Rankin and Taylor Cornall who took the score along to 33 when Alex Rankin(18) was out lbw to the bowling of Alex Mason bringing in Robert Rankin to join short term partnership with Taylor Cornellwhich added just one run when Robert Rankin (2) was caught off the bowling of Alex Mason who struck again to claimhis third wicket when Gary Knight (13) offered a simple catch to Paddy Allan.

This took the score to 73-3.The loss of the wicket of John Armstrong (5) to leave the score on 78-4 was making the chasing total of 171 looking amore difficult task than was first thought. Taylor Cornall, however, was looking very comfortable and while he was thereand the lower order batsmen could support him the required total was still within reach and that proved to be the case.

Harvey Rankin (22) and Sam Marsh (26*) both played well in supporting Taylor who carried his bat to score a chanceless71* with the winning run hit by Sam Marsh in the 41st over.It was a good all round performance by Ormskirk with Taylor Cornall, in his home debut, making an outstandingcontribution to earn him the accolade of ‘Man of the Match’.