AN outstanding bowling performance by Zaighum Abbas boosted Birkenheadv St Mary's hopes of avoiding a bottom two finish in Division Two of the Liverpool Competition.

In a ten over effort including four maidens Zaighum was almost unplayable as he claimed 9-13.

Seven victims were clean-bowled and two leg before wicket as Hightown were dismssed for a paltry 40 chasing 196 posted by the Saints.

Lee Roberts (41) and Muhammad Ghafoor (60) batted well for the Wirral outfit and the win puts them third bottom in the table.

Rich Battersby and Brynley Richards took three wickets each as Caldy saw off Old Xaverians by eight wickets but Parkfield Liscard fell by six wickets at home to Prestatyn.

Dave Hadden tried his best with a knock of 48.

New Brighton took the Premier Leaue derby against Birkenhead Park by 136 runs. Best for the winners were Martyn Evans 95, Upal Fernando 52, David While 46 and Andrew Evans 3-33.

Chris Davies, with 39, top-scored for Park and Ashraf Nawab finished with 3-22.

Wallasey lost by 68 runs at Lytham. Alex Eagles contribted 72.

Neston claimed the Cheshire County League Premier Division derby at Oxton by 89 runs. Rich Wilkinson (91) and Will Sykes (58) played a big part with an unbeaten 149 fifth wicket partnership.

James Fennah made 47 not out for the losers.

In Division Two Irby lost by three wickets at home to Tattenhall whilst Upton failed by six wickets at Bredbury St Marks.

Old Parkonians went down by six wickets at home to Holmes Chapel in Division One of the Cheshire Alliance and there was also defeat for Ellesmere Port by 79 runs at Saughall.

Tranmere Vics took a low scoring Division Two clash with Audlem by five wickets.

Eastham and Bromborough in Division Three were denied success by the last Kerridge pair.

Scoreboard:

Liverpool Competition Premier Division: New Brighton 258-5dec, Birkenhead Park 122; Lytham 259-6dec, Wallasey 191.

Div.Two:- Hightown 40, Birkenhead St Mary's 196; Old Xaverians 92, Caldy 93-2; Parkfield Liscard 125, Prestatyn 126-4.

Cheshire County League Premier Div: Oxton 125, Neston 214-4dec. Div.Two:- Bredbury St Marks 138-4,Upton 134; Irby 145, Tattenhall 147-7.

Cheshire Alliance Div.One: Old Parkonians 107, Upton 134; Saughall 184-3dec, Ellesmere Port 105. Div.Two:- Tranmere Vics 57-5, Audlem 55. Div.Three:- Kerridge 179-9, Eastham & Bromborough 204-9dec.

Some clubs have their last matches of the season this Saturday but the Liverpool Competition programme does not end until Saturday, September 20.

Fixtures:

Liverpool Competition Premier Div: Birkenhead Park v Southport & Birkdale; New Brighton v Fleetwood Hesketh; Wallasey v Rainhill.

Div.Two:- Birkenhead St Mary's v Burscough; Skelmersdale v Parkfield Liscard; St Helens Town v Caldy.

Cheshire County League Premier Div: Bramhall v Neston; Chester Broughton Hall v Oxton.

Div.Two:- Upton v Irby.

Cheshire Alliance Div.One: Ellesmere Port v Appleton; Port Sunlight v Old Parkonians.

Div.Two:- Audlem v Maritime; Knutsford v Tranmere Vics.

Div.Three:- Eastham and Bromborough v Frodsham II.

Cheshire League Div.Three:- Wirral v Trafford MV.