Thread by @TomEvansEcho

I’m at Bootle, where the hosts have made a bright start against New Brighton - they’re 53/0. More importantly, a man sat to my left is reading my article in yesterday’s Echo.

If he’s paying attention to both the article and the game, he’ll know this is the first time Bootle have batted first this season.

Bear with me on some of the New Brighton bowlers’ names. Going by the fielders’ shouts, I’m pretty sure it’s Louis Botes and Jonathan Fowler at the moment. Will Hale is on 31 and Vishal Tripathi 22 after running three to a VERY long boundary.

Not tweeting much because not much is happening. Batters looking untroubled. 77/0 in the 19th over.

Sebastian Botes (I think) is having a go from the park end now. Has Hale groping outside off a couple of times. 87/0.

Drinks being drunk at 99/0, Hale 47 and Tripathi 42. Both have been solid and positive, putting away the too-frequent short deliveries.

Ashraf Nawab into the attack. Score moves on to 105/0 from 26 overs.

Tripathi runs Botes down to third man to bring up his 50. Power to add, as well.

Most eventful over of the game see Tripathi cream Botes for three straight fours, finding time to be spilled at cover as well. He moves on to 66, score to 126/0. Chance of a really imposing total here.

Hale reaches his 50 with an edge off Nawab.

David While into the attack, left-arm spin from both ends. Hale in particular looks less comfortable than against the seamers - and an edge flies past slip for four. Not New Brighton’s day so far. 137/0.

There will be a short break in your coverage. Like when the BBC used to cut to the racing. Bootle 145/0.

You’ve missed 61 runs and seven wickets. Not exactly Gooch’s 300 but still. 52 overs gone, 226/7... 232/7 now as a huge six sails on to Wadham Road. I’ll let you know who hit it in a bit.

It was Jangir Liaqat. Bootle have declared on 244/8; a very good total, but not what they might have expected from 161/0.

It was the spinners that did the damage; Nawab and While both took four. Bootle have missed a frontline spinner this year; they’ve got a lot of runs to play with, but they have to take 10 wickets to win... liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/cricket/…

The bell has rung. Captain Matt Thompson and Sebastian Botes down to open for New Brighton. 245 the target; plenty of time in the game.

Keith Barker at the end of his run, Botes on strike.

According to the scoreboard, it’s wicketkeeper Neal at the non-striker’s end; he watches approvingly as Botes plays two dreamy cover drives for four.

Toby Lester has Neal lbw after two fours. 16/1 after two eventful overs.

Now Barker draws Botes into one drive too many and he’s caught by Hale at slip. 16/2, Bootle making the inroads they needed to. Pite van Bijon joins David While at the crease.

PvB pushes one into the covers that just races away for four. Good value for shots on a rock-hard outfield, with one of the square boundaries very short. 26/2 from 5 overs.

The runs are flowing here. While and PvB both playing very positively; they’ve put on 49 in no time. 65/2 from 12 overs. Barker to continue, though Bootle have plenty of seam options.

And here’s one of them, the headbanded Will Purser.

PvB steps out and biffs Purser over extra cover; Neil Williams responds by coming up to the stumps. Next ball is eased through point for four more. 73/2 from 14.

Now While creams Barker through the covers, then benefits from a midfield at square leg. Long way to go but these two are carrying the fight to Bootle. 82/2 chasing 245.

Barker clobbered While on the glove a couple of overs back; now he’s got a short leg in place for some more short stuff. While is equal to it for now. 95/2, While on 43 and PvB on 30.

Jangir Liaqat replaces Barker and immediately persuades While to nick behind. Gone for 47. 101/3.

Louis Botes edges his first ball over the slips for four. No sign of New Brighton dropping the shutters just yet. Still about two hours to go, 140 runs or seven wickets left.

Now Purser bowls van Bijon, and that feels like a BIG wicket. 105/4.

Botes and Cool giving it some welly. Target below 100.

An added frisson of tension here is that my phone is on 32% and I need it for interviews. Hence the sporadic updates on what is a fascinating game. Scott Butterworth having a bowl; 159/4.

Tripathi comes on for some spin and gets smacked over mid-wicket by Cook. This is a superb counterattacking partnership, worth 64, and it’s threatening to put New Brighton in the box seat. I’d still just rather be the fielding side here. 169/4, 76 required.

Botes scampers two off Tripathi to bring up his 50, then celebrates by pulling then off-driving him for successive fours. 189/4, 56 needed. #TomViz about 50/50 right now.

Another two boundaries for Botes, who is swinging at literally everything when I’m not sure he needs to... still it’s working for now. 198/4, 47 needed, as Barker comes back on.

Short stuff does the trick for Barker as Botes fends to slip. Fine innings of 68 is over - it’s up to his teammates to make it worthwhile. 198/5 into the last hour.

Cook takes over, whacking Butterworth for four then six. Field completely spread. Matt Thompson is the new batter. Butterworth tries a celebrappeal but it’s not out. 209/5.

Now Barker yorks Cook for 40. He’s on a hat-trick; 209/6. 36 needed. Jonathan Fowler the new man.

Fowler clouts a four. 27 needed. Four wickets left. (Phone on 24%)

Lester comes back on and gets Fowler caught at mid-on. 222/7. 23 to win.

Thompson and Sandalls happy to get them in singles. 230/7, 15 required.

Butterworth’s throw skips off the crease and over the stumps with Sandalls a mile out. 231/7. Battery 20%.

Sandalls caught behind off Barker. 231/8.

Single off the last ball. New Brighton need 13 runs, Bootle two wickets.

Lester bowls two no-balls in an over, which is suboptimal in the situation. 238/8 after a couple of singles and a two; Barker’s first ball of the next flies over the keeper for four. 242/8

TOP-EDGED SIX AND NEW BRIGHTON HAVE WON. What a game.

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