NEW Brighton greatly enhanced their hopes of claiming the Liverpool Competition Premier League title with a terrific six-wicket success at second-placed Ormskirk.

The seasiders now lead their cross river rivals by 21 points with six games remaining and it is virtually a two-horse race for top spot.

Ormskirk batted first after winning the toss and posted 253-6 in 51.3 overs. Martyn Evans returned 4-47.

The Wirral side looked to be in some trouble early on but then a magnificent unbroken 173-run partnership between David While and Upal Fernando saw them to victory.

While included 15 fours in his 112 not out.

Fernando was unbeaten on 84 which included nine fours and two sixes.

Birkenhead Park won by six wickets at Southport and Birkdale. Their key players were Ian Daniel 5-48, Luke Camden 76no and Chris Davies 68.

Wallasey are off the bottom of the table after seeing off Highfield by 144 runs. Neil Cross hit 60 and took 4-26.

Others to do well were Alex Eagles with a half century and Lahiru Wellalege with 6-32.

Parkfield Liscard continue to pull clear of the Division Two relegation zone.

Their latest outing realised an 11-run win over visiting Alder.

Sadrey de Pieza was man-of-the-match with 55 and 4-32. Caldy lost by 157 runs at Hightown St Mary’s and are second from bottom.

Birkenhead St Mary's remain adrift at the foot of the table but showed improvement before going down by four wickets at home to Sutton. Pooma de Silva scored 63 and Sam Black claimed 4-47.

Neston pulled further clear of the Cheshire County League Premier Division relegation zone.

Their latest match ended dramatically in a three-run win at Marple as Chris Finnegan took the last three home wickets in the final over.

He finished with 5-24. Simon Stokes 85 and David Hurst 122 put on 143 for the first Neston wicket.

Marc de Brabander hit an unbeaten 106 for Upton in a Division One draw at Timperley.

Upton (Chris Stowell-Smith 63, Rich Cowderoy 47) drew at Warrington in Division Two.

Irby (Mark Newman jnr 51no, Steve Renshaw 48no) lost by nine wickets at Bollington.

Scoreboard

Liverpool Competition Premier Div: Southport & Birkdale 186-9dec, Birkenhead Park 187-4; Ormskirk 253-6dec, New Brighton 256-4; Wallasey 222-8dec, Highfield 78.

Div Two: Hightown St Mary's 258-3dec, Caldy 101; Parkfield Liscard 153-9dec, Alder 142; Birkenhead St Mary’s 149, Sutton 152-6.

Cheshire County League Premier Div: Marple 283, Neston 286-6dec.

Div One: Timperley 257-8dec, Oxton 175-8.

Div Two: Bollington 140-1, Irby 138-6dec; Warrington 163-8, Upton 211.

Cheshire League Div Three: Port Sunlight 158-9dec, Langley 130 (Simon Melberzs 7-28).

Cheshire Alliance Div One: Saughall 205-7dec, Tranmere Vics 133.

Div Two: Eastham and Bromborough conceded v Old Parkonians; Mellor 147-8dec, Maritime 142.

Liverpool Competition Premier league fixtures this Saturday include a Birkenhead Park v Wallasey derby while title-chasing New Brighton welcome Southport & Birkdale.

Other games are: Liverpool Competition Div Two: Caldy v Old Xaverians; Wavertree v Birkenhead St Mary’s; Springview v Parkfield Liscard.

Cheshire County League Premier Div: Neston v Bowden. Div One: Oxton v Didsbury. Div Two: Irby v Widnes; Upton v Congleton.

Cheshire Alliance Div One: Tranmere Vics v Holmes Chapel. Div Two: Old Parkonians v Audlem; Knutsford v Eastham & Bromborough; Rylands v Maritime.

Cheshire League Div Three: Aston v Wirral; Port Sunlight v Sandbach.