Bootle, with 53 overs at their disposal in reply, began with partnerships of 33 and 36 for the loss of openers Snellgrove and Craig Prince, but it was when Steven Mullaney teamed up with Neil Williams at 115-3 that the innings really caught fire to put the result beyond all reasonable doubt..

Mullaney hit 14 fours and 5 sixes in a fabulous innings of 108 not out, and Williams was unbeaten on 24 playing the valuable supporting role in a stand of 72 which took Bootle to victory by 7 wickets in the fourth over of the last twenty, setting off scenes of celebration as the new champions were rapturously applauded from all parts of the ground. .

Orrell Red Triangle chose to bat first in Sunday’s cup final and were going reasonably well at 79-2 after the first twenty overs. Opener and captain Chris Riley stayed in for 2 hours 27 minutes making a very good 56 for his team but he lacked the really substantial support which would have been needed to take the visitors’ total beyond 200. Steve Dutton captured four useful wickets at a personal cost of 24 runs and Orrell Red Triangle were all out for 158 with fifteen balls of their 45 over allocation unused. .

Bootle had reached 45-2 after 11 overs when rain forced the players from the field, and off they stayed for over an hour. On resumption, the home side were set a revised target of 74 to win in a total of 21 overs without losing more than five wickets. Jackson and Jack Kelliher played with the correct mixture of aggression and caution in the face of some top rate seam bowling from Andrew Mercer, and the 29 runs required were knocked off in one ball short of seven overs to give Bootle the victory by 8 wickets. A weekend of celebration indeed.

Under 13s National Knockout

Liverpool 55 a/o (20ov)

Firwood Bootle 57 for 1 (9.3ov)

Points N/A

Firwood Bootle won by 9 wickets

 CONNOR CLARKE GETS 5 WICKETS IN AN OVER AS UNDER 13’s WIN

Following their defeat at Rainhill on Sunday Firwood Bootle Under 13s bounced back with an excellent win in the Under 13s National Knockout at Wadham Road last night. Bootle asked Liverpool to bat and some tight bowling restricted the Liverpool side to 54 for 5 with one over left, to be bowled by Connor Clarke, who, at that stage had 2 for 9. His over then went .wwwwow for Connor to finish on 7 for 10 and Liverpool all out for 55

All the boys fielded well in a good team performance.

Luke Atkinson and Jack Driver put on 17 for the 1st wicket in Bootle’s reply before Luke was out for 10. Liam Nall then joined Jack and hit 22 off 14 balls as we passed Liverpool’s total in the 10th over to win by 9 wickets. Jack 17 not out.

The new Indoor Cricket School was opened this winter by former club captain ‘Ian Cockbain’. 

The 2009 season is less than a week away and the club would like to wish the new
1st X1 skipper Dave Snellgrove (Snelly) and his team all the very best for this year. 

There is also a new captain of the 2nd XI in the shape of Andy Ehlen. ‘Ehlo’, no stranger to the captaincy in the past, will be going all out with the lads to regain the title and cup in 2009.  

The 3rd X1 skipper can’t wait to get started this year. As he said in his own words, ‘I was dreaming last night of winning the league!, we can take it from that, that he feels very confident this year.  Good luck John!

Arkle (Tony Molloy Snr) will continue this year to help develop our youngsters through the Sunday Development Team. Arkle did a great job in between the rain showers last year and let’s hope the weather is better for the boys this season.
 
The club would also like to pay a special welcome to all the new winter signings who will wear the Bootle CC badge this year.  Steve Mullaney – Steve Dutton – Lee Gallagher – Roger Smith – Adam Shillcock – Pat Jackson – to name a few.

That’s the good bits!

Now for the bad news! Please note that all club membership subscriptions are now due and need to be paid by 30th June 2009.  Please speak to Andy Ehlen with regards to your subscriptions.