LOCAL CRICKET SCENE with Andrew Stratton

SHOCK of the day in the Bromborough Paints Merseyside Competition was provided by Irby as they whipped leaders St Asaph by 10 wickets.

Colin Gibson, who claimed five wickets at the expense of just nine runs, and Neil Parkinson, 4-43, were the bowlers who inflicted the damage as the Welsh side collapsed to 77 all out.

Caldy moved into second place despite being denied victory by the last Port Sunlight pair. Chris Ruddock hit 48 not out and Phil Eymond put on 42, while Dave Aston claimed 4-26.

Parkonians suffered their first defeat in Division Two, but stayed top. The margin was 24 runs at the hands of Manweb. Adam Westwater claimed 6-43.

Tranmere Vics crashed at Xaverians and Eastham Bromborough lost to Nalgo.

Birkenhead St Mary's went under by five wickets at home to St Mary's College. Tony Sullivan made 62 and took 4-19. John Ford hit 51.

Parkfield just held on for a draw against Wirral. Steve Lewis made 52 and John Costain took 4-25. Best for Wirral were Leighton McKibbon, 40, and Daryl Hempstalk, 5-26.

RESULTS:-

Division One - Caldy 163-5 declared, Port Sunlight 122-9; Irby 78-0, St Asaph 77.

Division Two - Birkenhead St Mary's 165-8 declared, St Mary's College 166-5; Eastham Bromborough 130, Nalgo 131-4; Parkonians 101, Manweb 125; Xaverians 37-2, Tranmere Vics 36; Parkfield 134-9, Wirral 155-8 declared.

Port Sunlight added to the St Asaph misery on Sunday with a 23 runs success in the Kaufman Memorial Trophy.

Fifteen-year-old Adam Crosby struck a major blow when he had potential matchwinner Neil Schlittler out for 89. Ian Wallbank top scored with 63 not out for Sunlight and Brendan Woods and Eddie Griffiths took 4-35 and 4-31, respectively.

St Asaph were dismissed for 144 in trying to chase Port Sunlight's total of 167-4.

Merseyside lost on a slower run rate away to the Ribblesdale League in the North West Colts Trophy.

Ribblesdale were 102-9 and Merseyside 69-7 when rain stopped play.

Matches this Saturday include:-

Division One - Caldy v Aigburth; Port Sunlight v Rainhill; Sutton v Irby.

Division Two - Nalgo v Birkenhead St Mary's; Mersey Park v Mossley Hill; Parkonians v Eastham Bromborough; Tranmere Vics v Parkfield; Wirral v Wrexham.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.