The First XI made the trip to Leigh, won the toss and asked the home side to bat first. A wicket apiece for Jimmy Dixon and Huzaifa Zubair saw both the Leigh openers back in their bubble with score on 19. There,then, followed a stand of 103 for the third wicket followed by steady progress enabling Leigh to declare on 220 for 7 in 50.1 overs. Huzaifa Zubair finished with 3 for 48 and Raheem Kasser 3 for 60.
In reply, Sefton Park's openers fared even worse than the home side, both being out with the score on six. Sefton then put on 23 for the third wicket, mainly thanks to Kemar Smith who scored 22 in 21 balls. Ayan Madhu and Huzaifa Zubair put on 73 for the fourth wicket, both scoring 33 but both being out with the score on 102. Sefton's resistance then faded, apart from Richie Conlan scoring 19 in 13 balls, and they were dismissed for 140 in 54.1 overs.
Unfortunately, because of results elsewhere, they are now in bottom place in the table with big home game against Northern and Bootle to come in the next two weeks.
The Second XI welcomed Newton-le- Willows to Sefton Park. Sefton won the toss and elected to bat first. A number of players made useful starts, Asif Saeed made 20, Harry Wright made 19 but 116 for 7 did not look enough. Dave Kelly (48) and Andy Aitchison (24) took the score to 178 for 8 with the best stand of the innings and the eventually finished all out for 182 for 9 in 45 overs.
(above) Dave Kelly scored 48 for the Second XI in their defeat by Newton-le-Willows
(below) Skipper Andy Aitchison scored 24
(above) James Stirling celebrated his selection for Lancashire under 14's with an excellent display behind the stumps, particularly this leg side take.
The highlight of the day was a century by the Fourth XI wicketkeeper Tom Bongers. The Fourth XI played New Brighton Fourths on the Lower Ground.
Sefton batted first and declared on 217 for 4 in 43 overs, Tom Bongers scored 120 not out, Adam Ahmed 34 not out and they featured in an undefeated stand of 94. Earlier skipper Jo Ledbury scored 20.
New Brighton began their innings well but were eventually bowled out for 147 with Dulam Rasoof taking 4 for 23 and Naj Ahmed 2 for16.
(above) Tom Bongers brings up his century with a six
(below) Tom Bongers
(above) Dulam Rasoof takes a wicket on his debut