THE last Saturday of the Liverpool Competition season saw Birkenhead Park preserve their Premier League status with a last-gasp win over Wallasey.
With Southport and Birkdale beating New Brighton, Park had to win and Mark Rowland gave them a great opportunity by hitting an unbeaten 107 as skipper Ste Hird opted for an early declaration on 206-2 off 35 overs. With steady rain falling, Park's bowlers kept their nerve as Malinda Pushpakumara (5-40) and Thomas Foster (3-4) spun them to a 35 run victory despite Greg Beaver's defiant 76.
Bottom place New Brighton finished their miserable season with a nine wicket defeat to Southport and Birkdale with the two sides confirmed as playing Division One cricket next season.
Caldy suffered final day heartbreak after they couldn't force the win against Alder that would have confirmed their promotion from Division Two. Defending just 95, the Wirral side had the hosts 80-9 but the last pair reached the target making Umega Chaturanga's 4-28 all seem rather irrelevant as news of Sutton's win over Parkfield Liscard confirmed Caldy finished third.
Parkfield Liscard finished ninth after that defeat as they were bowled out for just 46 chasing promoted Sutton's 109 all out. Jehan Yahathugoda took 6-45.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here