1st XI Excel Once More as the 2s Take their Turn to Stumble

Gorgeous weather and even more gorgeous batting conditions at Mill Hill Road as Irby 1s nearly break 300 once more, with another maiden centurion stepping up to the plate.

Photo by Robert Shaw

The 1st XI Stay Top thanks to Superstar Rafi

Joining the club last year, Rafi Afridi has only gone from strength to strength playing for Irby’s 1st XI. Winning the toss and electing to bat was an easy decision for Cam R.B. and it was Earlstown taking to the field. This wasn’t going to be a roll-over game for the 1st XI, Earlstown placed firmly in 4th position on the day of playing and looking good for the season. The classic duo of Wilkes and Umer got stuck into their work quickly and runs were piled on the board, Wilkes succumbing first to an edge for a well-earned 26 and Umer out for 48. It was time for Afridi to enter the ring with Hussain. Their aggression followed by sensible shot making allowed them to score with pace and freedom. Rafi was edging closer to his maiden century for the club and Hussain had fallen for 42. Tahir was dismissed after just thirteen deliveries and Tarar, newly snatched up from the 2nd XI made an impressive 31 before he found square leg. The last over quickly came around and Afridi needed 14. With a few quick hits, it was down to 6 needed off 2 deliveries for his ton, and Rafi delivered. A monster six over long-on, his first of the day, secured his century. A fantastic batting display from the lads once more.

Replying with the ball following a commanding total is a relatively simpler ordeal, but wickets were still needed to be taken. Geen was excellent once again, taking 3 wickets during his 9-over spell. Hussain once more taking 3 wickets and new entrant Wilkes with an extremely impressive 3-15 off 9 overs. The visitors struggled to bolt down a partnership and the runs stemmed. They succumbed to a heavy defeat in the end, bowled out for 79 runs. The commanding win allows the 1st XI to retain top spot in the league alongside Prescott & Odyssey. The race is still on, who will fall first?

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2nd XI Could not Contain the Opposition

Great batting conditions prevailed at the Old Hospital Ground at Moss Side Maghull as Irby win the toss and elected to bat first. De Silva and Bennett starting things off with a strong partnership, but with Bennett trapped LBW for a third consecutive week and Haridass falling quickly after, it was down to debutant Gowtage to take the reins and steer Irby to a good total. He batted with patience, keeping excellent form and once De Silva and Poulston had fallen it allowed skipper TJ to open up the scoring from one end. The 2s battled their way to 150, then within the last few overs up to 176 off 40. It was down to the bowling unit to defend what may have been considered a slightly below-par score on a good deck.

Miles and Wilkes opened the bowling and the lads were off to a good start, picking up two quick wickets and Irby felt like they were on top, until league leading run scorer at number 3 began to wrestle the score back toward the hosts favour. TJ replaced Wilkes with a spell to forget, at the other end Poulston with a good return to cricket. But the runs steadily flowed and the batters never looked uncomfortable. As the batters edged closer to victory, only one wicket had fallen just before the drinks break and the 2nd XI needed a reset. It was a good fight back post-drinks, the side nearly toppling the opposition, with Newman taking a stunning diving catch to dismiss the danger man. It was however the oppositions day and although the return spells from Wilkes, Miles and a new spell from the excellent James Miles, it wasn’t meant to be. The hosts claimed victory over the 2s, who went home defeated but not out of the race for the title.

Due to the fortunate circumstances at the start of the season and the nature of batting first, the 2nd XI received 12 points for their loss this weekend. This meant they retained their place at the top of the table, heading into a home game next weekend against Mossley Hill’s 2nd XI.

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The 4s Have a Shock to the System

The 4th XI had a day to forget at Mill Hill Road facing up against Bootle 3s. Irby CC on the toss and elected to bat, a recurring theme for the day, but Bootle had their tails up and with missing opener Delaney the 4th XI struggled to get a grip on the game. A flurry of single-figure scores with only one top score of 15 from Abbotts meant the 4s were dismissed for the small target of 43. Arguably not too much of an uphill task for the opposition, they headed back to bat straight away. It wasn’t plain sailing for them however, both skipper Bough and Nayak have bowled excellently this season and continued to prove their worth, taking five wickets between them as Bootle hovered over the line after 9.2 overs. Taking wickets with them was the best thing for the 4th XI as every point counts within this league.

Sunday Cup - Birkenhead Park Slam the 3rd XI

The 3rd XI were on the unfortunate end of a bludgeoning this Sunday in their fixture against Birkenhead Park 3rd XI in the Mike Leddy cup. It was Irby’s turn to travel to Birkenhead Park after a triumphant win the weekend before against Prescott & Odyssey. Birkenhead Park won the toss and elected to bat. It wasn’t long before the fireworks started from BPCC, quickly surpassing milestone after milestone. Smithy dismissed their opener for 88 after the 20th over but the relentlessness never ceased. The hosts stampeded to 299-8 off the scheduled 40 overs and the 3s needed a strong reply.

With 300 to win and an uphill challenge set, the chase was on. It was only really a strong innings from Ben Jones that set up Irby, with wickets falling around him and nobody their to steady the ship, the 3s found themselves bowled out for 88. Birkenhead Park progress in the cup to the semi finals and unfortunately the good run from the 3rd team has now ended. I can imagine the 3s are looking forward to finally getting a saturday fixture on. All four teams play this weekend.

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