RAINHILL'S long awaited first win of the season came at St Marys College Old Boys.

Captain Paul Ford inserted the home side on a damp track and an early wicket from Nick Chapman courtesy of Paul Ford's fine catch reduced SNOBS to 2-1.

A lengthy break for rain did not help matters and on the resumption Paul Ford (jnr) took the second wicket at 23-2.

Wickets then proved hard to gain as SMOBS moved passed 50. Two wickets for David Bolton saw Rainhill take the upperhand at 82-4.

The introduction of Mike Rotherhams leg spin was the turning point in the game.

A wicket with his third ball and two further wickets in his five-over spell with Nick Chapman also taking two wickets saw the home side declare on 142-9.

Pick of the Rainhill bowling - Mike Rotherham (3-29), Nick Chapman (3-30), David Bolton (2-28) and Paul Ford (1-35).

In reply the Rainhill openers struggled to score quickly and a run out at 16-1 was a setback.

Positive innings by Paul Ford 33 and David Bolton moved the score to 88 before Ford was caught behind.

Bolton stepped up the tempo with a superb innings of high quality strokes particularly his straight driving.

Despite the loss of two wickets Bolton saw Rainhill home with two overs to spare hitting the winning runs with a four.

Bolton finished with 68 not out (9x4's, 2x6's) as Rainhill completed the victory on 143-5.

Rainhill 2nd XI home game to SMOBS was cancelled due to the weather.

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