Torrisholme return to Palace Shield top tier with defeat

Man of the match Joshua Holden starred for the visitors to Boundary Meadow taking 5-15 with the ball to restrict Torrisholme before making 70 not out to help the Fylde coast side cruise to a nine-wicket opening day victory.

Matt Jackson, skippering Torrisholme for his seventh season, lost the toss and was asked to bat first.

It was tough going early on with the hosts losing Andy Butler (1) as they reached just 13-1 after 10 circumspect overs.

Jeff Stobbart (2) soon followed but last season’s top run scorer Chris Parry (33) was joined by young debutant James Cookson (11) who played a mature innings, helping move the score along to 54-2.

Just as Torrisholme looked to have built a platform Parry was controversially adjudged to have been trapped in front however.

James Ferguson (46) was aggressive from ball one but Holden’s slower ball started to cause problems with Cookson (11), Glenn Russell (0) and Ben Pye (0) all departing in quick succession.

Skipper Jackson (11) offered some resistance but Ferguson was running out of partners. He was cleaned up by the returning Jamie Hogarth as Torrisholme stumbled to a below-par 133 all out.

In reply, Torrisholme put Freckleton under immediate pressure with a maiden from Jackson and a wicket maiden from Graham Lee (1-33), who accounted for Jonathan Millward caught in close by his captain.

However that is as good as it got for the hosts with Holden and Moreau (54 not out) playing chanceless innings to steer Freckelton to a nine-wicket victory inside 34 overs.

Next Saturday Torrisholme travel to near neighbours Garstang.