2026 - the season in numbers at Sefton Park Cricket Club

And so another season ends and a huge thank you goes to everyone behind the scenes who ensure that each week the facilities are there for everyone to play and enjoy this great game that we all love. This summer we were blessed with the hottest in memory with only a handful of games lost to rain. While this had its positives for players and spectators it caused untold work our groundsmen Scott and Phil so special thanks to them. To all our bar staff, led by Jan, Nat and Aud, another big thank you and the same to all our faithfull supporters in the Rose Garden and on the terrace. Our sponsors and those who help organise vital fundraising schemes such as The 100 Club and Last Man Stands, also deserve a special mention.

So here's a deep dive into the season's numbers from our resident statistician Mark Boyns and website reporter Jamie Bowman.

1st XI

It was a frustrating season for the 1st XI who finished sixth in Division One of the Liverpool and District Cricket Competition. Illustrative of how close the side came to being promotion contenders is that they lost the same number of games (five) as Southport and Birkdale who came second but drew more games (five) than any other side in the division. The bowling attack of Dixon, Zubair, Singhvi and Melia / Spilsbury was a potent weapon while Haroon had an excellent season with the bat at the top of the order.

Top 5 batters (runs scored):

Top 5 bowlers (wickets):

2nd XI

The 2nd XI had a difficult season under new captain Tom Rushton, only securing safety in the final weeks of the season to finish a creditable 7th in the Premier League. But there were plenty of highlights with Tom performing admirably with the bat under difficult circumstances. Centuries from Luke Connolly, Chris Bellis and Rob Supria will live long in the memory and Joash Vinu remains a fine young prospect. With the ball, Michael Kelly had a superb season, taking 41 wickets and bowling more than double the overs of anyone else.

Top 5 batters (runs scored):

Top 5 bowlers (wickets):

3rd XI

By their own high standards a league placing of 4th could be considered a disappointment for the 3rd XI but this was a tough division with the top two sides losing just three games between them. Winning half their league games and drawing another four shows the quality of the opposition in the top half of the table the 3s were up against. Highlights included a superb season for James Whittaker with the bat and the evergreen Mark Boyns was his economical best with the ball. Skipper Charlie Daniels scored the side's only century of the season.

Top 5 batters (runs scored):

Top 5 bowlers (wickets):

4th XI

Following relegation from the Premier League and he restructuring of 3rd XI cricket, the 4th XI regrouped under new skipper Tim Yates and an experienced core of the side which proved successful as they finished second and won promotion. Rob Kennedy again proved his worth as leading run scorer, including a half-century in the vital win over Northop Hall, while Tim was also a reliable presence in the top order. Hamza Maqbool proved an excellent addition with a memorable unbeaten century at Caldy and Mike Heaney scored his first Sefton ton for over a decade. Jamie Bowman, Paul Barlow and Josemon Vincent proved an effective bowling attack with 57 wickets between them.

Top 5 batters (runs scored):

Top 5 bowlers (wickets):

Sunday XI AW

A fine unbeaten run towards the end of the season steered Alex Woods' side to safety in the Sunday 3rd XI Premier League and they finished seventh out of 10 sides. Alex led from the front with over 500 runs adding to his extraordinary season total of 1,000+. runs. Rajiv Bhardwaj also enjoyed an exceptional campaign, scoring two centuries and averaging a shade under 50. Ben Lester and Dan Cuthbert showed what excellent prospects for the future they both are by averaging over 40. Will Saunders' left arm spin claimed 14 wickets.

Top 5 batters (runs scored):

Top 5 bowlers (wickets):

Sunday IX RB

With just one win all season it was undoubtedly a tough season for Ronan Brady's side which finished 15th out of 17 sides. Nonetheless there were plenty of positives as the side gave plenty of opportunities to juniors taking their fest steps in senior cricket. Paul Squires' return to cricket proved exclusive with a score of 159 not out against Prescot and Odyssey while Ronan proved his all-round prowess with two half-centuries.

Top 5 batters (runs scored):

Top 5 bowlers (wickets):

Individual milestones

Most runs in a senior cricket season in the 21st Century

Alex Woods 1071 (2026)

Paul Horton 1019 (2003)

Ben Moore 989 (2007)

Tom Rushton 947 (2025)

Adam Irwin 919 (2013)

Matt Ireland 917 (2015)

Milestones passed with the bat in senior cricket this season

Mike Heaney 4000 runs

Alex Woods 2000 runs

Tom Rushton 2000 runs

Sam Parkinson 2000 runs

Jo Ledbury 2000 runs

James Whittaker 2000 runs

Haroon Khan 1000 runs

Jack Clements 1000 runs

Ronan Brady 1000 runs

Milestones passed with the ball in senior cricket this season

Mark Boyns 300 wickets

Pete Ostler 100 wickets

Milestones passed in the field in senior cricket this season

Scott Aitchison 50 catches

Appearance milestones in senior cricket passed

Rob Kennedy 300 games

Chris Bellis 300 games

Paul Horton 250 games

Charles Daniels 200 games

Jimmy Dixon 150 games

Jo Ledbury 150 games

Raj Bhardwaj 100 games

Best bowling in senior cricket this season

Will Saunders 6/24 (Sunday AW v S&B)

Ronan Brady 6/46 (Sunday RB v Ormskirk)

Huzaifa Zubair 6/60 (1st XI v HSM)

Jimmy Dixon 6/60 (1st XI v Spring View)

Josemon Vincent 5/10 (4th XI v Caldy)

Top innings in senior cricket this season

Paul Squires 159* (Sunday RB v P&O)

Alex Woods 153 (Sunday AW v South Liverpool)

Rob Supria 136 (2nd XI v NLW)

Hamza Maqbool 126* (4th XI v Caldy)

Luke Connolly 125 (2nd XI v Rainford)

Most runs in senior cricket this season

Alex Woods 1071

Raj Bhardwaj 762

Haroon Khan 618

Hamza Maqbool 594

Tom Rushton 583

Most wickets in senior cricket this season

Ronan Brady 65

Mike Kelly 43

Tom Spilsbury 37

Huzaifa Zubair 36

Dan Cuthbert 34

Highest batting strike rate in senior cricket this season (minimum eight innings)

Navi Singh 110

James Orme 97

Mike Heaney 95

Chris Mitchell 93

Alex Woods 92

Lowest bowling strike rate in senior cricket this season (minimum 50 overs)

Will Saunders 16

Connor Melia 18

Chris Mitchell 20

Jonny Dopson 20

Paul Barlow 24

Lowest runs per over in senior cricket this season (minimum 50 overs)

Mark Boyns 2.5

James Orme 2.6

Paul Barlow 2.7

Chris Mitchell 2.8

Josemon Vincent, Huzaifa Zubair 3