A Champagne Job by the Seaside

By Mike Latham

Congratulations to John Winn who completed the remarkable collection of witnessing each county playing every other county in the Championship, a total of 157 games. I enjoyed reading the background to him finally achieving the Holy Grail.

I suppose we are all chasers of some goal or another, completionists in search of fulfilling our individual cricket goals. When football groundhoppers complete a league they often call it a 'Champagne Job' so Saturday was the cricketing equivalent for me.

It’s far less of an achievement than John’s but last weekend I went to Prestatyn CC on the North Wales coast, thus completing a visit to all 35 of the current grounds in the top three divisions of the Liverpool & District Competition.

Prestatyn CC

The ‘Comp’ as it is known, adheres to ‘time’ cricket. I’m not aware of any other leagues, particularly one whose top division is an ECB accredited Premier League, that does this. Maybe our readers can advise?

The rules are somewhat complicated and take a while to get used to for those whose weekly diet is 50-over league cricket with fielding circles, restrictions on bowlers’ overs and win-lose cricket. I think I’ve got used to it. Increasingly I find myself watching Comp games on a Saturday and this season I’ve been rewarded with some great games to savour.

Starting at noon, the side batting first loses its batting points if batting more than 55 overs but can bat all day if it so desires. There are six hours 15 minutes of playing time, plus a last hour in which a minimum of 20 overs must be bowled. Tea interval is 30 minutes. The bowling team must average 17 overs an hour, though I think this is slightly reduced at present to allow for sanitation breaks. The players I know that play in the Comp love time cricket. In fact, I’ve not heard one detractor among the many players and spectators I’ve spoken to this season.

It’s a system that rewards positive captaincy, as demonstrated by one of the best games of league cricket I’ve ever seen. Saturday 3 July 2021, Northern v Wigan on a poor day weather-wise, but the Northern CC ground at Great Crosby escaping the worst of the rains, as it always seems to do.

Northern v Wigan, 3 July, Vinay Choudhary bowling

Premier Division leaders Northern struggled after a delayed start against an impressive Wigan bowling attack, Indian slow left arm spinner Vinay Choudhary (5-37 off 24 overs) superb. By tea they were 131 for 7 after 49 overs, Liam Grey top-scorer on 45.

The Northern captain, James Cole, then declared, setting Wigan 132 to win in what would have been around 50 overs. Bearing in mind they have a decent batting line-up, including former New Zealand Test player Aaron Redmond, that was a brave and challenging declaration. Challenging, especially for his side, with the bowlers expected to perform.

Cole’s invention was rewarded as Grey and slow left-armer Tomas Sephton worked their way through the Wigan batting line-up. Grey, bowling with sustained pace and accuracy, dismissed Redmond, caught behind by Cole first ball.

Liam Grey takes the last Wigan wicket, amid scenes of home team celebrations

The drama intensified as Wigan edged towards their target in the last hour before last man Edward Hurst was trapped leg before by Grey to give Northern victory by one run. Grey took 4-29, Sephton 6-56, Wigan 130 all out after 45.1 overs. It was a wonderful game.

Prestatyn Town FC

So, to Prestatyn, for a second division (third tier) game against Wavertree. Prestatyn’s ground is located just inland from the beach, as its name Beach Close implied. Further inland and behind the bowler’s arm from the far end is the Bastion Gardens ground of Prestatyn Town FC, who were playing Northwich Victoria in a pre-season friendly that afternoon.

Prestatyn are one of three Welsh sides in the Comp, Colwyn Bay and Northop Hall the others. They all choose to play in this league rather than the North Wales Cricket League, which is also ECB accredited.

Sampath Perera, the Prestatyn pro

The Prestatyn professional is an experienced Sri Lankan cricketer, Sampath Perera who the previous week had taken the first nine wickets in his side’s victory over Maghull.

After the drama of Northern this was a far more low-key affair but I enjoyed it nonetheless, a peaceful day spent at a friendly club on what was quite a warm day. Huge black clouds over the hills dominated the skyline inland but the sun broke through for most of the afternoon at the seaside.

Prestatyn toiled against an accurate bowling attack, batted on after 55 overs and were finally all out for 182 after 56.2 overs, number three batter Sheil Sethi last man out for an extremely valuable innings of 83, Stewart Guy taking 5-72 for the visitors.

Perera, a clever and resourceful opening bowler, was soon in the groove again, taking four of the first five Wavertree wickets to fall before forced out of the attack with what appeared to be a calf injury.

Youngster Benjamin Hughes is obviously learning from the ‘pro’ and he took 3-15 while Perera later returned to the attack to take another wicket and finish with 5-10 as Wavertree ended 84 all out after 34.1 overs, Prestatyn winners at around 6pm by 98 runs.

The skies lifted inland over Prestatyn as the day went on

The Comp isn’t without its problems, like any other league, not least struggling to find a 12^th team to fill its second division. The Southport and District Amateur cricket League (SADACL) is the official feeder league but Birkenhead St Mary’s, the last champions, did not step up. The SADACL also includes several ex-Comp sides such as Skelmersdale and Burscough who appear to be rebuilding.

There is also a shortage of umpires with many games outside the Premier Division having only one appointed umpire most weeks. This game was no exception, but Ian Craven carried out his duties masterfully and the game was played in a very good spirit.

There was a nice touch at the end as Perera insisted that his young seam-bowling protégé Hughes should lead the team off, which he did with obvious pride.

In a future blog I’ll try to give you some impressions of the 35 clubs I’ve visited and the vast choice of grounds for cricket enthusiasts to visit. You won’t be disappointed if you spend an afternoon in this league.

The closing stages at Northop Hall CC

The early finish allowed me to call in at Northop Hall, a simply lovely ground which is just inside the Welsh border, and close to the A55, on the way home. They duly completed an eight-wicket win over Fleetwood Hesketh chasing 180 with opener Harrison Jones unbeaten on 76 and Will Harrison 47 not out.

The visitors had made 179-9 off 62 overs, and Northop Hall’s reply, completed with just a handful of overs to spare, took 48 overs.