FINAL @lpoolcomp PREVIEW OF THE SEASON and it's all about the bottom of the Premier Division, where @FBCC1833 and @SNBCC are separated by the barest of all margins (which I took the opportunity to say out loud in both interviews, natch).
I’m wide awake, it’s mid-day and I’m here, like some kind of non-giving-up cricket guy. Rainhill won the toss and inserted Bootle; two overs have been bowled but not much has happened.
It’s cloudy but pleasant enough; forecast is set fair both here and in Leigh, where Southport & Birkdale are batting. Here’s what matters and why… liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/cricket/…
Rainhill’s Tyler McGladdery and Ross Higham have moved the score on to 7/0; Toby Lester and Will Purser looking for the breakthrough. Hosts without Danny Davies, and Keith Barker is still on Hampshire duty; visitors missing Jamie Harrison and Peter Kelly from their attack.
Autumnal day at Northern, where the hosts can wrap up the @lpoolcomp title with a win over New Brighton. The visitors have been asked to bat and are 15/0 from 4 overs after a nick through the slips by Armand Rabot off Ryan Maddock.
Sorry - Daniel Shillinglaw hit the four; Rabot is the other batter. I’d hate to get complaints.
21/0 from 6 overs, positive start from the visitors. Both Maddock and Tom Sephton have beaten the edge a few times but the batters haven’t been bogged down.
Not one, not two, not four, but THREE freshly minted cricket pieces for you to read while you watch Ollie Pope push a bit too hard at good length balls on fourth stump...
Early breakthrough for Bootle as S&B bat first… JJ Fielding was batting but is no longer, after Will Purser trimmed his bails. 4/1 after 4 overs.
Purser is bowling wicket to wicket, as he does, while Toby Lester from the other end is getting a decent amount of bounce. Tight start from the defending champions; Isaac Lea and Jack Carney at the crease for the hosts.
Lester gives Carney a bit of width and gets carved for two fours. Plenty of catchers waiting for the edge though.