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Leader Live
5 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Battle of the top-two as Northop Hall tackle Ainsdale
There's a major battle of the top-two in store and it is sure to go a long way to deciding who will eventually take the title. Northop Hall, now up to second in the rankings, are excited for their trip to league leaders Ainsdale. Both sides have mainly been dealing in triumphs this season and of their combined 24 games, 19 of them have resulted in wins. Only three of them have been defeats, so there will be little to choose between the high-flying rivals. 'I would probably say it's a mustn't lose game,' said Northop Hall skipper Ben Slater. 'It will be a good game.' It's a three-way race for the two promotion spots. Ainsdale find themselves 21 points clear of Hall, who are just five points ahead of third-placed Caldy. Caldy suffered a four-wicket loss to Prescot & Odyssey last time out to drop out of the promotion places. 'To be fair to them (Caldy), they have had a good run,' added Slater. 'I think that was their first defeat. You're never going to go a full season without losing a game.' Meanwhile, Hall go into the match on the back of a thumping 113-run win over Norley Hall. Jac Kennedy (61), Slater (55 not out) and Andrew Watkin (42) made valuable contribution's in Hall's 235 for four declared in 49 overs. The bowlers were tasked with finishing off the job and they did so in style to dismiss the visitors for 122. Not for the first time this season, the bulk of the plaudits went the way of Paul Jenkins with his six for 34 return. Slater, who heralded another 'bowling masterclass' from Jenkins, added: 'We batted really well as a team. Andy and Jac added 99 for the first wicket. 'That makes the game miles easier for those coming in afterwards.' Matteo Evans-Ford and Liam Evans-Ford will be added to the Northop Hall side. Northop Hall Seconds will look to make the most of home comforts as they entertain Ainsdale Seconds. Chirk have strengthened their ranks ahead of a free weekend of action in the Shropshire League. They have secured the services of Matty Lawrenson, from North Wales League Marchwiel and Wrexham. Lawrenson is a talented bowling all-rounder and is sure to bring energy, control and valuable experience to the squad. In Division Seven, Chirk Seconds pay a visit to Whittington.
Leader Live
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Northop Hall must be wary of seam in another big clash
Hall are within sight of the top-two in Division Two of the Liverpool Competition and victory at home to Norley Hall tomorrow will keep them well in the mix to go up. Skipper Ben Slater is anticipating another tough test and he said: 'They're a good opposition. 'They have probably got the best seam attack in the league. As always, it's take every game as it comes.' It turned out to be a dramatic weekend last time out, with Ainsdale and Caldy - the leading two sides in the division - playing out a draw. This meant Northop Hall's 104-run thrashing of Parkfield Liscard moved them to within just 15 points of those promotion positions. Reflecting firstly on the lofty draw, Slater said: 'They were both obviously ahead of us. It means that gap is now down to 15-20 points. We play one of them in two weeks' time.' Meanwhile, Slater's decision to declare on 197 for nine appears a brave one - but there was a reason for this. 'Obviously, it was a good performance at the weekend,' he added. 'It's one of those. If you go past 55 overs, you lose your bonus points. We had four.' Northop Hall Seconds are away to Bootle Seconds tomorrow. Things remain tough for Chirk in the Shropshire League. Liam Walker's side have suffered three Division One defeats on the bounce and they will be aiming for a more positive outcome from tomorrow's trip to Wellington Seconds. In Division Seven, Chirk Seconds have home advantage against Albrighton Seconds. Chester Boughton Hall will be putting on their Sunday best when Filkins Lane hosts the National County Cricket Association's T20 final this weekend. Shropshire will face Dorset in Sunday's 50-over contest and Cheshire are pleased to play host to what promises to be a thrilling final. The game gets underway at 11am with 50 overs per side and tickets cost £14.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nottinghamshire bat themselves into strong position against Somerset
Jack Haynes hit a century to put Nottinghamshire in a strong position on the third day of the Rothesay County Championship match with Somerset at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton. (Image: Getty Images) Rothesay County Championship. day three: Nottinghamshire 509 lead Somerset 379 & 4-1 by 126 runs Jack Haynes hit his third Rothesay County Championship century of the season to lead Division One leaders Nottinghamshire into a strong position on the third day of the match with Somerset at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton, writes Richard Latham, ECB Reporters' Network. Advertisement Starting the day on 214 for three in reply to their opponents' first innings score of 379, the visitors ran up 509 all out, Haynes leading the way with a career-best 157, while Ben Slater fell early for 124, Ishan Kishan made 77 and Lyndon James 66. Jack Leach ended a tough day for Somerset's bowlers on an unhelpful pitch with hugely creditable figures of six for 121 from 53.2 overs, displaying exemplary accuracy as Notts steadily built a lead of 130. The hosts had to face one over before stumps and closed on four for one, nightwatchman Matt Henry bowled by Patterson-White's final delivery. Unbeaten on 34 overnight, Haynes' hundred occupied 176 balls and featured 11 fours and a six. It was just the innings his side required to first stave off any prospect of a significant first innings deficit and then build what could prove a match-winning advantage. Leach opened Somerset's attack at the start of play, bowling in tandem with off-spinner Archie Vaughan, and struck an early blow when Slater, having added only eight to his overnight score, aimed a back-foot forcing shot and edged a catch to wicketkeeper James Rew. It proved Somerset's only success before lunch, despite taking the second new ball at 238 for four. Advertisement Haynes went to a 92-ball fifty and found a more aggressive partner in Kishan, who quickly dispatched a delivery from Matt Henry over fine leg for six with a vicious pull shot to bring 250 up. On 60, Haynes survived a confident shout for a catch behind off Leach, but it was a rare moment of alarm for Notts as they closed in on Somerset's total. By lunch, the scoreboard read 322 for four, Kishan having just moved to a half-century off 83 balls, with 4 fours and 2 sixes. The deficit was down to 57 and Haynes was looking rock solid on 81. The pattern continued in the afternoon session, Haynes pulling a boundary off Vaughan to bring up the century partnership. Somerset then had two difficult chances to make a much-needed breakthrough as Kishan offered low diving chances to wicketkeeper Rew down the leg side off Kasey Aldridge and Craig Overton at slip off Vaughan. Notts looked set to collect a third batting point when moving to 347 for four with five balls remaining of the 110th over, but Aldridge prevented Kishan from scoring from any of them. It was a minor setback as Haynes went to his eighth first class hundred, and third of the season, with a boundary off a leg-side full toss from Aldridge. Advertisement The fifth-wicket stand was worth 138 when Kishan edged a delivery from Leach onto his front pad and presented a straightforward catch to Tom Abell at short-leg. The Indian wicketkeeper had faced 128 balls and increased his boundary count to 8 fours and 2 sixes. James had a scare with only a single to his same when edging Leach through the legs of wicketkeeper Rew standing up to the stumps. That was as good as it got for Somerset as tea was taken with Notts 431 for five and leading by 52 runs. The final session saw James go to fifty off 87 balls, with 7 fours, before Haynes brought up his maiden 150, having faced 287 deliveries and struck 15 fours and 2 sixes. Their century stand followed as Somerset continued to toil in the warm sunshine. Haynes finally fell lbw trying to sweep Leach with the lead just short of 100. Liam Patterson-White was then stumped pushing forward to Vaughan before the tireless Leach made it a five-for, turning a ball from on leg stump to force Brett Hutton to edge to slip. Farhan Ahmed departed to Vaughan for a duck and James edged a drive off Leach to slip, but by then it was Nottinghamshire's highest ever total at Taunton.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Leach takes six but Notts have edge against Somerset
Rothesay County Championship Division One, Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton (day three)Somerset 379: Banton 84, Abell 64, Rew 58; Abbas 3-59, Hutton 3-94 & 4-1Nottinghamshire 509: Haynes 157, Slater 124, James 66; Leach 6-121 Somerset (4 pts) trail Nottinghamshire (4pts) by 126 with nine wickets standingMatch scorecard Jack Haynes hit his third County Championship century of the season to lead Division One leaders Nottinghamshire into a strong position on the third day of the match with Somerset at the day on 214-3 in reply to their opponents' first innings score of 379, the visitors ran up 509 all out, Haynes leading the way with a career-best 157, while Ben Slater fell early for 124, Ishan Kishan made 77 and Lyndon James Leach ended a tough day for Somerset's bowlers on an unhelpful pitch with hugely creditable figures of 6-121 from 53.2 overs, displaying exemplary accuracy as Notts steadily built a lead of 130. The hosts had to face one over before stumps and closed on 4-1, nightwatchman Matt Henry bowled by Liam Patterson-White's final on 34 overnight, Haynes' hundred occupied 176 balls and featured 11 fours and a six. It was just the innings his side required to first stave off any prospect of a significant first innings deficit and then build what could prove a match-winning opened Somerset's attack at the start of play, bowling in tandem with off-spinner Archie Vaughan, and struck an early blow when Slater, having added only eight to his overnight score, aimed a back-foot forcing shot and edged a catch to wicketkeeper James Rew. It proved Somerset's only success before lunch, despite taking the second new ball at went to a 92-ball 50 and found a more aggressive partner in Kishan, who quickly dispatched a delivery from Matt Henry over fine leg for six to bring 250 up. On 60, Haynes survived a confident shout for a catch behind off Leach, but it was a rare moment of alarm for Notts as they closed in on Somerset's lunch, the scoreboard read 322-4, Kishan having just moved to a half-century off 83 balls, with four fours and two sixes. The pattern continued in the afternoon session, Haynes pulling a boundary off Vaughan to bring up the century partnership. Somerset then had two difficult chances to make a much-needed breakthrough as Kishan offered low diving chances to wicketkeeper Rew down the leg side off Kasey Aldridge and Craig Overton at slip off looked set to collect a third batting point when moving to 347-4 with five balls remaining of the 110th over, but Aldridge prevented Kishan from scoring from any of them. It was a minor setback as Haynes went to his eighth first-class hundred, and third of the season, with a boundary off a leg-side full toss from fifth-wicket stand was worth 138 when Kishan edged a delivery from Leach onto his front pad and presented a straightforward catch to Tom Abell at short-leg. James had a scare with only a single to his same when edging Leach through the legs of wicketkeeper Rew standing up to the stumps. That was as good as it got for Somerset as tea was taken with Notts 431-5 and leading by 52 final session saw James go to 50 off 87 balls before Haynes brought up his maiden 150, having faced 287 finally fell lbw trying to sweep Leach with the lead just short of 100 and Patterson-White was then stumped pushing forward to Vaughan before the tireless Leach made it a five-for, turning a ball from on leg stump to force Brett Hutton to edge to Ahmed departed to Vaughan for a duck and James edged a drive off Leach to slip, but by then it was Nottinghamshire's highest ever total at Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Slater century leads Notts reply against Somerset
Rothesay County Championship Division One, Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton (day two)Somerset 379: Banton 84, Abell 64, Rew 58; Abbas 3-59, Hutton 3-94Nottinghamshire 214-3: Slater 116*, Haynes 34*Notts (2pts) trail Somerset (2pts) by 165 with seven wickets standingMatch scorecard Ben Slater's 15th first class hundred spearheaded a solid Nottinghamshire batting display on the second day of the County Championship Division One match with Somerset at home side extended their first innings score from an overnight 275-6 to a challenging 379 all out, Tom Banton dismissed for 84 and Matt Henry making an unbeaten 41 off just 29 balls, with four fours and three the close, Notts had posted 214-3 in reply, opener Slater contributing an unbeaten 116, off 224 balls, with 14 their opponents on day one, Somerset bowled few loose deliveries and every run had to be fought for on a day of soaring temperatures. Jack Leach conceded just 42 runs from 25 overs of left-arm spin and Craig Overton 31 from was unbeaten on 57 at the start of play, having been dropped on two, and shouldered major responsibility for lifting Somerset to a competitive score. With only nine runs added to the total, he lost partner Kasey Aldridge, caught at second slip by Freddie McCann low to his right off Mohammad looked in good touch, scoring 24 and helping Banton add 44 for the eighth wicket, before being pinned lbw by Brett Hutton with the total on 330 in the 111th over, both sides having been forced to settle for two bonus spinner Liam Patterson-White had bowled tightly throughout the innings and reaped the reward of a second wicket when Banton, who had battled away for four hours and 17 minutes, striking eight fours, mistimed a reverse sweep straight to Abbas at backward remainder of the innings was all about Henry, who treated the 2,000 children admitted free from schools around the region, to some exciting hitting. The New Zealander survived a chance to Joe Clarke on the long-on boundary and produced numerous clean strikes in a last wicket stand of 39, to which Jack Leach contributed just six before being caught at bowled off a leading edge by Farhan visitors had to negotiate a tricky 15 minutes before lunch, but reached the interval on 15 without loss from three overs, Leach having opened the home bowling attack with afternoon session saw Somerset bowl without much luck in rising heat - but they made a breakthrough with the total on 38 as Haseeb Hameed got a thin edge to a delivery from Henry to be caught behind by James was soon looking to capitalise on a pitch offering no more than occasional assistance to the bowlers and moved confidently to a half-century off 62 balls, with nine fours. McCann contributed to a second-wicket stand of 66 before pushing forward to off-spinner Archie Vaughan and providing Rew with a second catch. At tea, the scoreboard read 124-2, but the final session saw Leach strike with the vital wicket of Joe Clarke, on 18, as the Notts player aimed a big drive at a wide delivery and edged into the safe hands of Overton at had a heart in mouth moment next ball as it rapped his back pad and went straight to Overton. Somerset's huge appeal for either leg before or a catch off an inside edge went unheeded and it proved a big moment as a meaningful fourth-wicket stand remained unmoved and brought up a hugely valuable century with a square cut for two off Vaughan, having faced 171 deliveries and extended his boundary count to 14. It was an innings of patience and sound shot selection on a pitch, which like the first day, required application with both bat and stumps, the partnership with Jack Haynes (34) was worth 71 and Notts could reflect on a decent afternoon's Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay
