TORRENTIAL rain washed out St Helens CC's first team fixture at Hightown.

But the second team spent two hours making the Windleshaw Road pitch fit for play and were rewarded with a win.

St Helens elected to bat first and in difficult batting conditions reached 112 all out thanks mainly to a captain's knock from Ian Lawless (30) backed up by Daniel Massey (27 not out). Hightown made little headway after the openers were dismissed and struggled to 72 all out against excellent bowling from Daniel Massey (four wickets). The middle order collapsed with Ian McCabe (2-3) and Ian Danes (3-12) making sure of an excellent victory.

The third team followed up their excellent form of the previous week with another fighting display against Bootle who were restricted to 127 all out in the face of excellent bowling from newcomer Adrian Bullock (5-32) supported by Andy Valentine (2-8) and Gareth Pawson (2-22). St Helens narrowly failed to reach the target and were dismissed for 93. Captain Karl Boardman top scored with 26 and led his young side well against one of the top sides in the league.

This weekend the first team are at home on Saturday and Monday against Newton-le-Willows and Hightown. In between they take on Whitchurch in the National Knockout.