Sutton (St Helens) Cricket Club

Mixed Start for Sutton

Cricket returned to the New Street Oval this weekend as the 1^st XI looked to build on their impressive 4^th placed finish last season and the 2^nd XI sought the challenge of 1^st Division cricket after last year’s championship winning season.

The 1^st XI travelled to Alder without club captain Mike Rimmer, so it was left to his deputy Joseph Noctor to choose correctly at the toss, a challenge he wilfully accepted and made no hesitation in batting first on a dry, patchy wicket. With the omission of Joe Smith due to shoulder surgery, it was James York who was given the nod to partner permanent feature Adam Onion at the top of the order. The pair quickly got into their stride and went past a half century stand inside the opening 10 overs. The partnership did however come to an end shortly after as Onion was adjudged leg before for 29, with the score on 64. Last years leading run scorer Noctor joined young York at the crease and he quickly picked up where Onion had left off. The pair effortlessly made light work of the Alder attack as both went past their half centuries and then past a century stand. York was eventually bowled with the score on 185 falling agonisingly short of century by 5 runs. Noctor closely followed as he was caught in the deep for 54. Some middle order cameos allowed Sutton to declare on 254/7 off just 45 overs.

In reply the hosts found themselves in trouble at 27/3 following a Ranawaka brace and a sharp Jamie Greener run out in the covers. The introduction of spin on the dry surface was always going to play a telling part in the game and Jamie Greener really got the ball to talk, removing the next three batsmen with some sharp turning and bouncing deliveries. The hosts were looking down the barrel at 57/6 but to their credit the lower order dug in and pushed the score past the 100 mark, but in the end Greener (5/32) and the returning Ranawaka (3/26) proved too hot to handle on a scorching first days cricket. Alder were all out for 129 giving Sutton a resounding 125 run victory to kick start the season.

The 2^nd XI welcomed Wavertree (who were the other promoted side to Division 1) to the New Street Oval and just like Noctor did, captain Anders won the toss and elected to bat. He was not however expecting to find himself at the crease with the score at 10/2 off 15 overs. Anders (30) pushed the scoring rate along but when he was dismissed at 50/5, he was quickly followed back to the changing rooms by the remaining 5 wickets, as Sutton had no answer to the left arm spin of Rooney-McGee (7/35) and bundled all out for 67. In reply, Sutton made a positive start, removing the top 3 batsmen for just 26 and despite taking a couple more wickets, the resolute Chris Heath (32*) seen the Liverpudlians home with 5 wickets to spare.

Next week the 1^st XI will be looking to continue their positive start when they host Burscough, while the 2^nd XI will travel down the bypass for a tasty derby with Rainford. The Sunday XI also kick off their season with a short trip over the lump to take on Goose Green.