Cheshire Lines skipper Helsby targets final title glory after perfect start to season

Cheshire Lines are pointing in the right direction after a perfect start to the last ever season of the Southport & District Amateur Cricket League.

The feeder competition’s merger with the Love Lane Liverpool Competition next summer means there is no promotion up for grabs. 

But the chance to be the last ever winners of a proud old competition is a huge incentive.

Lines skipper Luke Helsby is currently the man in pole position to have the honour of lifting the trophy, with his side top of the table after four wins from four games.

“It’d be nice,” he said. “Although it is a long way off still.

“We’re taking it week by week and seeing how we go.”

Listen to the Last Hour cricket podcast

The Allerton side also won four from four in the group stage of the Sandhurst Shield, held before the start of the league season. 

Ā semi-final win against Alder set up a final against Skelmersdale in July. 

Helsby said: “We’ve won nine out of nine so far and we’ve played everyone in our division apart from Winstanley Park, who we play on Saturday, Commonwealth and Skem. 

“It’ll be good to see where those other sides are at.”

this weekend’s fixtures

latest tables

Batting & bowling stats

Last Saturday’s four-wicket win at Earlestown, on a day when most games across the region were washed out, was a real bonus.

The rain ensured unbeaten Alder could not keep pace with Lines on maximum points, and Helsby’s bowlers ensured the batters only had to chase 91.

Jerin Sunny, Ghulam Rasool and Aaron Doran shared the wickets; Helsby and Ryan Corrigan steered the side over the line after a worrying lurch to 38/6.

It’s that kind of team effort which has been key to Lines’ successful start.

Helsby added: “We’re usually on the other end of the weather so it was nice to be on the right side of it.

“I think we’re quite strong in all areas. 

“We’ve got very good depth in bowling so I’ve always got very good options for whatever situation we’re in.”

from Merseyside Cricket Online https://ift.tt/bOxuA2K