BILLINGE continued their recent unbeaten run at high-flying Merseybus on Saturday.

Electing to bat first in the soaring heat, they were given the perfect start by an opening stand of 68 by Tom Walsh, who hit a classy 36 and Carl Stockley with his usual display of quality stroke play, helping himself to 29.

This good work was continued by Paul Ryan with a swashbuckling 20, before he yet again got himself run out. And after the loss of five more cheap wickets, Mike Grime arrived at the crease and from the start hit out in blockbusting style to earn himself 30 not out and help his side reach 139-9 in their 40 overs.

P Sorfleet 2-6 and D Barnes 2-43 were the best of the Merseybus bowlers.

When Merseybus began their reply, Mike Grime, ripped out their top four batsmen with a powerful assault, with his usual hostile quick bowling.

These losses proved too much and the rest of the Merseybus batsmen were picked up quite easily by the rest of the Billinge seam attack, in particular Steve Middlehurst with 2-7 to restrict the busmen to 57 all out. Special mention has to go to Mike Ryan kept wicket superbly taking the catch of the season into the bargain.

Billinge CC are sponsored by Jimmy Jackson Plumbing and Heating.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.