RAINHILL 1st XI recorded an excellent home victory against reigning champions Wavertree.

Wavertree were asked to bat on a damp wicket and came up against Rainhill's new opening attack of debutant Steve Jordan and the fit-again Paul Robinson.

The latter struck first with the score on only 2 and continued to bowl with pace. However, it was Jordan who claimed the plaudits as he took the next five wickets, including Indian professional Geol.

At 68-6 Wavertree were teetering but the later batsman battled hard, before Mattie Dale with two wickets, helped to wrap up the innings for 116.

Jordan finished with figures of 5-32, Mattie Dale 2-11 and Paul Robinson 2-51.

In reply, Rainhill were soon in trouble at 18-3 and 38-4 and victory appeared improbable.

Captain Mike Rotherham, batting with maturity and intelligence, skillfully pushed the ball around to give Rainhill a chance.

Two further wickets fell and at 79-6 with only eight overs left the total looked tough, But Rotherham remained in control, ably supported for the second successive week by Nick Chapman, and with seven balls

remaining the latter struck the ball over the Wavertree fielders to complete an excellent victory on 117-6. Mike Rotherham finished on 49 not out and Nick Chapman 11 not out.

Rainhill hope to press their championship ambitions forward with an away fixture this Saturday at Birkenhead St Nadys. And they face the same opposition, again away, in the Kaufman Cup on Sunday.

Rainhill 2nd XI visited Wavertree on Saturday which was a tense battle of nerves with the Liverpudlians winning off the last ball.

Under-15 youngster Mattie Dooling hit 49 for Rainhill, including six fours. Ian Kelly hit 57, including two sixes and five foursto help push the score to 172 for 7 declared, off 65 overs.

Wavertree battled to 136 for 6, but then let it rip with Kevin Ling making a cultured unbeaten 57 with 9 fours. Steve Milnes came to the fold to claim an excellent 6 for 71 in 19 straight overs.

It was an exciting final over with 11 needed to win, reduced to 4 off the last ball, which Kevin Ling duly obliged to find the boundary.

The Sunday XI were entertained by M.O.B. from Manchester who scored 220 for 4 off only 45 overs. A. Lovatt (77) was bowled out by Steve Gregory, who got the best figures of 2 for 57 off 10. The home side struggled with only Andy Birkett (26) and Mark Coulson (44 not out) reaching double figures. Rainhill hung on for a draw to finish on 98 for 9 and are still unbeaten winning 1 and drawing 3.