Report and photos: Peter Rogan

With Skipper Gary Knight out through illness, and Taylor Cornall unavailable because of selection for Lancashire, Ormskirk travelled to Wallasey with an under-strength team and were soundly beaten.

Acting Skipper Scott Lees won the toss and elected to bat.

Openers Alex Rankin and George Politis had put on 28 runs when Wallasey’s professional spin bowler Sumit Ruikar claimed his first wicket, having George Politis (5) expertly stumped by Mykal Graham. Without another run being scored Ruikar had Richard Brook (0) caught behind and he quickly struck again when he claimed Alex Rankin (27) and his second stumping victim.

With the score on 35-3, Harvey Rankin (1) joined John Armstrong but he too, like the batsmen before him, found Ruikar difficult to handle and duly lost his wicket to the bowler offering a simple catch to Danny Beaver. At 44-4 things were not looking good but started to improve when Ian Robinson joined John Armstrong and the pair put on 28 runs before Ian Robinson (17) became Ruikar’s third stumping victim.

With the score on 67-5 Sam Marsh joined John Armstrong but lost his wicket without scoring, giving Ruikar his 6th wicket.

Things went from bad to worse when Wallasey’s Harry Meehan, who had been supporting Ruikar, came into the action with a vengeance. He claimed the last four wickets, taking those of John Armstrong (16), Scott Lees (2), Robert Rankin (0) and Josh Thompson (2).

Ormskirk had been bowled out for the measly total of 74 off 27.4 overs with only three batsmen having scored in double figures. It was OCCs worst Premier League batting performance for many a year due to a large extent to the superb bowling of Ruikar and Meehan.

It took the Wallasey batsmen just 18 overs to knock off the required runs with the loss of three wickets, all taken by Jamie Barnes who finished with figures of 3-37.

Returning home with just one point was a huge disappointment after a recent run of good form; hopefully next weekend, a league game against Wigan and a National Quarter Final against South Northumberland will bring smiles back to the faces of both players and supporters...