Thursday 14th May - 2nd XI win cup thriller at Caldy

Sefton 2ndXI won a thriller in the Chrysalis T20 Cup at Caldy by two runs following a brilliant bowling performance from Ronan Brady and Pete Ostler.

Ostler conceded just two runs from the last over to pull off what at times had seemed an unlikely victory.

Alex Woods scored 26 at the top of the order but, with the rest of the top five failing to make double figures, Sefton were 48-5 at the halfway point. Shadab Khan (22) and Raj Bhardwaj (38) put on 44 for the seventh wicket in 31 balls to get the total up to 137-8. Anthony Olsson with 3-28 for the hosts.

Caldy's chase seemed in hand as David Brown (55) and John Pugh (26) took them to 107-2 after 12 overs.

Brady (4-18) then changed the whole complexion of the game; he took four wickets in seven balls as each of the next four overs went for just two runs - but even then the ask was less than a run a ball. Overs 17, 18 and 19 went for six each and Caldy needed five runs off the last six balls until Ostler intervened, conceding just two runs and taking a wicket to seal the win.

Pete Ostler takes a crucial wicket in the final over of the match (pic: Ray Hibbs)

In the other midweek games there was an excellent win at Widnes for Sefton U15s in the cup.

Openers Dan Cuthbert and Ben Lester each scored at better than a run a ball before retiring at 50; Finn Spragg then hit three sixes in his 44* from 23 balls.

Having set Widnes an intimidating 170 to win, the bowlers offered their hosts' batters little as Widnes quickly fell behind the rate. Their innings ultimately closed on 65-6 with Rai Salik Ahmad taking 2-1 from three overs.

Sefton Women suffered a defeat in the LDCC T20 League at Croxteth Drive.

Batting first, Sefton were restricted to 79-5 from their 20 overs; Eleanor Cantwell top-scoring with 34. Hightown's response was wobbling at 34-4, thanks to Cantwell's 2-8, but they ultimately reached the total with four overs and five wickets to spare; Felicity Fry also taking 2-19.