The last few ups and downs as Love Lane Liverpool Competition season comes to a close

Ormskirk are champions, Birkenhead Park are down, Liverpool, Ainsdale and Northop Hall are promoted. Congratulations or commiserations to all, as appropriate.

But there is still plenty to play for in the final round of fixtures…

Premier Division relegation battle

	Sep 20	Points	Wins	BatP	BowlP	HtH
Wigan	NOR A	184	4	50	49	26
Colwyn Bay	BOO H	160	3	51	44	24

The good news for Colwyn Bay is that they have a home game against a Firwood Bootle side with little to play for, while Wigan travel to Northern. The bad news for Colwyn Bay is that things have to go almost perfectly for them to stand a chance.

If Wigan get even two points – that’s 130 runs, four wickets, or a washout – they can’t be caught, even if Bay pick up a maximum 25.

If the Welshmen do manage to get level on points, they can go ahead on batting points. But the following scenario is possible…

1st innings: Colwyn Bay lose the toss, are asked to field and bowl Bootle out. Wigan bat first and make 100-129.

2nd innings: Colwyn Bay win. Wigan lose by nine or 10 wickets.

In this case, Colwyn Bay will earn 25 points (20 for the win plus five bowling points) and Wigan one (a batting point). The sides will be level on 185 points; on four wins; on 51 batting points; and on 49 bowling points.

The decider will be their head-to-head points, where Wigan have a two-point advantage.

Division One promotion & title battle

	Sep 20	Points	Wins	BatP	BowlP
Liverpool	SUT A	353	13	41	47
Orrell Red Triangle	OXV H	343	12	42	46
Spring View	SEF H	322	11	54	43

Spring View need to win with at least one bonus point to stand a chance of dislodging Orrell Red Triangle, who will seal promotion if they earn five points or more. A tie on points will go View’s way, as they will be level on wins and are well ahead on batting points. But a return to the Premier Division is in Orrell’s hands.

Liverpool are already promoted but will want the title. A win will wrap it up, anything less lets Orrell in.

The only way Liverpool and Orrell can finish level on points and wins is if Orrell get a 20-point win and Liverpool manage a 10-point draw (bowl Sutton out for 220+, then get to 220 themselves but fail to win) or if Orrell get a 25-point win and Liverpool tie with Sutton.

In the first scenario, Liverpool will go ahead on batting points; in the second, Orrell will be ahead on either batting or bowling points. So this can’t go to head-to-head points (for the record, as I went to the trouble of looking it up, Orrell are ahead 32-25).

Division One relegation battle

	Sep 20	Points	Wins
Maghull	HSM H	178	4
Old Xaverians	ORT A	174	5

The closest of all the races, to avoid the single relegation spot. A win with two bonus points will put Maghull out of reach, whereas anything less will open the door to Old Xaverians, who beat league leaders Liverpool a few weeks ago.

The Woolton side are effectively just 3.5 points behind as any tie is bound to break in their favour – there is no way the sides can be level on points without Xavs staying ahead on wins (if Maghull win and Xavs don’t, Maghull will be at least nine points clear).

Division Two title race

	Sep 20	Points	Wins	BatP
Ainsdale	PRE A	429	17	47
Northop Hall	WAV H	408	16	39

Last but not least… Ainsdale need just four points at rock-bottom Prestatyn to claim the title. Northop Hall, also already promoted, can catch them on points and wins but not on batting points – so they need to earn at least 22 points and hope the leaders have an off-day.

Now that’s all done, I’ll just take a big sip of coffee and check the weather forecast…

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