17/04/2010
AINSDALE 229-8 (45 overs) (E Fazakerley 39)vSOUTHPORT AND BIRKDALE 230-3 (34) (Galley 83, Devlin 73*)Result: Southport and Birkdale won by 7 wickets


24/04/2010
NORTHOP HALL 244-8 a/o (10 men) (40.3) (W Higginson 76, R Smith 37 [101-1st wkt], Worrall 56; M Causey 3-44)
vAINSDALE 260-8 (45) (Newcombe 127, Bolton 55 [110-7th wkt], Newcombe and J Barlow 40* [130-8th wkt]) - were 17-6Result: Ainsdale won by 16 runs

The knock on effect that having fewer players than usual to select from meant that both the 2nd and 3rd team also had to field understrength sides. However the 2nd XI produced a great victory away at Northop Hall this was largely due to a magnificent 127 from Dave Newcombe, which was well supported by a knock of 55 from Chris Bolton, which meant that the pair put on a stand of 110 for the 7th wicket. A further 40no from Joel Barlow allowed him and Newcombe a partnership of 130. The side made a total of 260, which was just too big for the home side to reach. This was despite Ainsdale being 17-6 at one stage of the game! No such luck however for the 3rd team who were forced to travel with only 10 men to New Brighton. The highlight of the Ainsdale innings was a fine half-century from Andy Davies. Sadly the Ainsdale total of 129 proved to be too small to defend. As we all look forward to the forthcoming Bank Holiday break Ainsdale can anticipate a weekend that will welcome back some of their missing players and hopefully a change of luck on the cricket field.

01/05/2010
AINSDALE 148-5 (36) (M Causey 37, E Fazakerley 34, Fitzpatrick 31)vWAVERTREE 144 (40.4) (C Oughterson 43; J Barlow 3-26)Result: Ainsdale won by 5 wickets
Meanwhile Ainsdale 2nd XI continue to play well and carved out another win this time beating Wavertree 2nd by a margin of 5 wickets. A solid batting performance saw three Ainsdale players scoring over 30 with a knock of 37 by Michael Causey being the pick of the bunch. This was supported by some fine bowling in particular figures of 3-26 by Joel Barlow ensured that the home team dismissed their opponents for a measly 144 runs.

08/05/2010
HIGHFIELD 211-3d (38.6) (RK Farrell 107*, Simm 40, Ramsdale 35)
v AINSDALE 212-9 (49.3) (Fitzpatrick 51, Norbury 49, N Owers 33)Result: Ainsdale won by 1 wicket
Toss: Ainsdale
Points: Highfield (5 bat pts + 4 bowl pts), Ainsdale (20 pts)
Victory too for Ainsdale 2nd XI away at Highfield gave the club as a whole much to cheer. Winning the toss Ainsdale allowed the home side to bat first. Having batted first the Highfield skipper felt that scoring 211-3 after 39 overs was a sufficient total on which to declare. This was a decision that he was going to regret.  The Ainsdale players then went about their business of compiling the necessary total in an epic run chase. A fine 51 from Ray Fitzpatrick along with 49 from Tony Norbury and 33 from Norman Owers ensured that Ainsdale came through the match with a victory by 1 wicket and 20 well-earned points in the bag.

15/05/2010
AINSDALE 185-9d (49.0 overs) (45 overs = 167-8) (N Owers 35, Bolton 34, Damen 32; A Lloyd 4-31)
v WAVERTREE 113-8 (40) (R Lloyd 22*; J Fazakerley 3-14)Result: match drawn
Toss: Wavertree
Points: Ainsdale (3 bat pts + 4 bowl pts), Wavertree (1 bat pt + 4 bowl pts)
Meanwhile Ainsdale 2nd team managed a draw in an exciting encounter with Wavertree at Liverpool Rd. A total of 185-9 was declared on with 3 Ainsdale batsmen all scoring over 30. Norman Owers getting 35 and Chris Bolton and Joe Damon scoring 34 and 32 respectively. Good bowling from Ainsdale restricted the visitors scoring freely, in particular, a fine effort from James Fazakerley who took 3-14 made the visitors work hard. Unfortunately Ainsdale ran out of time and were forced to settle for a draw and 7 points.
 
22/05/2010
PARKFIELD LISCARD 224-8d (47) (45 overs = 200-6) (McCulloch 92*, Smith 42)
v AINSDALE 212-9 (39) (Damen 57, J Barlow 38; Craven 3-53)Result: match drawn
Toss: Ainsdale
Points: Parkfield Liscard (5 bat pts + 4 bowl pts), Ainsdale (5 bat pts + 4 bowl pts)
Ainsdale 2nd XI were in action in a fixture reversal away at Parkfield Liscard. In a drawn encounter Ainsdale were set a total of 224 runs by the home side. Joe Damon and Rob Gamble both bowled well and took wickets along with James Fazakerley and John Pearce. However the highlight from an Ainsdale point of view was a fine 50 from Joe Damon supported by 38 from Joel Barlow in an intriguing encounter that saw Ainsdale finishing the day with 5 batting and 4 bowling points. 

29th & 31st June 2010
AINSDALE
v SOUTHPORT AND BIRKDALE
Result: match abandoned without a ball being bowled
Toss:
Points: Ainsdale (5 pts), Southport and Birkdale (5 pts)

MAGHULL 233-8d (45) (M Gillespie 65, Plumbley 44; Damen 6-69)
v AINSDALE 107-8 (37) (Farrington 29; Gibbons 5-23 inc hat trick)Result: match drawn
Toss: Ainsdale
Points: Maghull (5 bat pts + 4 bowl pts), Ainsdale (1 bat pt + 4 bowl pts)

Ainsdale 2nd XI were also in action on Bank Holiday Monday as Chris Jones took his men to Maghull. On winning the toss the Ainsdale skipper decided to put the home side in to bat with the hope of being able to bowl them out. Maghull however, batted well and managed to score a very respectable 233 for 8 before deciding to declare. The pick of the Ainsdale bowlers once again was Joe Damon, who is currently going through a rich vain of form with both bat and ball. His figures of 6 wickets for only 69 runs showed what a fine bowler he is. The Ainsdale batting side rocked a little and lost some early wickets. However, a solid knock of 29 from Robbie Farrington aided some stubborn Ainsdale batting meant that Maghull were unable to take all 10 Ainsdale wickets in the allotted time so the final result was a hard fought draw.

05/06/2010
AINSDALE 234-6 (40.0 overs) (Fitzpatrick 54, Damen 49, N Owers 40)
v LEIGH 233-9d (44) (M Waywell 122; Damen 6-90)Result: Ainsdale won by 4 wickets
Toss: Leigh
Points: Ainsdale (20 pts + 4 bowl pts), Leigh (5 bat pts + 3 bowl pts)

Good news though for Ainsdale 2nd XI with a fine win at home against Leigh CC. Having won the toss the away team decided that they would bat first and in doing so managed to score 233 – 9 dec from 44 overs. The pick of the Ainsdale bowling attack was once again Joe Damon who is displaying some great form at the moment; his haul of 6 wickets for 90 was supported in the main by 3-45 from John Pearce. Leigh could be forgiven for thinking that 233 was enough of a total defend but they reckoned without realising Ainsdale’s ability to chase a score. Ray Fitzpatrick scored a valuable 54 along with 40 from Norman Owers, and Joe Damon, who is proving himself to be a genuine all-rounder scored a quickfire 49 from just 24 balls. Ainsdale easily amassed the required number of runs with 4 overs to spare giving them and well-fought and much deserved victory. 

12/06/2010
SKELMERSDALE 223-8d (45) (M Moss 109, Houghton 39 [105-4th wkt], Wright 26)
v AINSDALE 72 (35) (Norbury 43; Fenney 4-27, Wright 3-14)Result: Skelmersdale won by 151 runs
Toss: Ainsdale
Points: Skelmersdale (20 pts + 5 bat pts), Ainsdale (4 bowl pts)
Sadly though Ainsdale 2nd XI didn’t enjoy the same success this weekend as their first team counterparts as they made the trip to Firswood Rd to face Skelmersdale. The toss was won by Ainsdale who decided to bowl first, and their bowlers enjoyed some very mixed fortune. Phil Causey, Chris Jones and Alex Rigby all enjoyed some success with each bowler taking 2 wickets each, but in all honesty too many runs were given away in the field and Skelmersdale were able to declare on 223-8 after 45 overs. Unfortunately the Ainsdale batting merited very little discussion as they suffered what was basically a collapse. Indeed the only Ainsdale player to have any joy with the bat was Tony Norbury who managed to score a defiant 43 but couldn’t do much to halt the steady fall of wickets. On a day that is probably best erased from all memory Ainsdale were skittled out for 72 and victory went to the home side.

19/06/2010
AINSDALE 202-7d (45.0 overs) (Norbury 59, Damen 42)
v BURSCOUGH 178-9 (48) (T Lydiate 37, Taylor 35; Davies 6-73)Result: match drawn
Toss: Burscough
Points: Ainsdale (5 bat pts + 4 bowl pts), Burscough (4 bat pts + 3 bowl pts)
Ainsdale 2nd XI were also in action at home to Burscough were they fought out a drawn encounter. Burscough won the toss and decided to bowl and the Ainsdale side set about the task of scoring runs. Mike Causey and Ray Fitzpatrick started the ball rolloing with scores of 20 & 21 respectively. However the stand out performances from the Ainsdale men was a superb 59 from Tony Norbury supported by 42 from the ever reliable Joe Damon. Ainsdale set a total of 202 for thier opponents to chase. unfortunately for Ainsdale the elusive 10th wicket was impossible to get and they had to settle for a draw.


26/06/2010
NEWTON LE WILLOWS 256-3d (45) (C Chambers 136*, N Birchall 37)
v AINSDALE 208-8 (44) (Pearce 73, C Jones 37; N Birchall 4-77, Scott 3-32)Result: match drawn
Toss: Newton le Willows
Points: Newton le Willows (5 bat pts + 4 bowl pts), Ainsdale (5 bat pts + 1 bowl pt)
Ainsdale 2nd XI were also in action at the weekend playing an away fixture at Newton-le-Willows. On winning the toss the home side elected to bat first and reached a total of 256-3 dec after 45 overs. Chasing this total Ainsdale batted steadily with opener Mike Causey scoring 27 later in the order Joel Barlow scored 25 but the standout score of the innings were a fine 37 from Chris Jones and a wonderful 73 from only 60 balls from John Pearce who scored eleven 4s and three 6s in his powerful knock. Ainsdale finished their innings on 208-8 and shared a well-fought draw with the men from Newton. It will be a very confident Ainsdale 2nd team that entertains local rivals Fleetwood Hesketh at Liverpool Rd next week!