ST HELENS Recs overcame a Haydock side containing former West Indies captain Jimmy Adams - but only after a nerve-wracking finale.

Haydock elected to bat first but lost two quick wickets which brought together Adams and Pickervance. They took the score to 88 before Pickervance was out lbw to Freeman for 46.

Adams continued to chip away at the bowlers but lost partners at the other end and when he was finally dismissed for 72 the visitors were in desperate trouble at 140 for 7.

It did not take Freeman long to wrap up the tail, finishing with fine figures of 5 for 42 from 17 overs, as Haydock were dismissed for 154 from 48.1 overs. In reply Recs also got off to a bad start losing two wickets for 8 runs before Ford and Wood steadied the show. Ford was next out for 23 with the score on 52 but whilst Wood stayed at the wicket he lost partners at regular intervals and Recs found themselves in trouble at 92 for 7.

Freeman joined Wood at the wicket and together they took the score to 126 before Wood fell for a hard worked 47, one of Adams four victims. Wilson joined Freeman and they inched the score towards the required target.

Recs needed 11 runs from the last over with Freeman on strike to Adams.

The over went 2, dot, no ball, 6 and a single leaving Filson on strike needing one run from two balls.

Adams' next ball bowled Filson only for the umpire to call a no ball to give Recs the win in an exciting finale. Filson finished on 11 not out and Freeman a fine 34 not out as Recs reached 155 for 8 from 56.4 overs to take maximum points.

The 2nd XI were also involved in another exciting game away to Fleetwood Hesketh. Recs won the toss and put the home side in to bat. Scoring was slow with the home side reaching 77 for 2 from 30 overs before the slog was on. Hughes finished with 2 for 64 from 19 overs and Jenkins 4 for 58 from 15 overs as the home side declared with the score on 182 for 8 from 51 overs.

In reply Recs lost an early wicket before Mitchell (23) and Critchley took the score on to 65. Huyton joined Critchley at the wicket and immediately upped the scoring rate, scoring a quickfire 30 from 25 balls leaving Recs on 116 for 3 with 16 overs left.

Dismissed

Critchley batted sensibly and when he was eventually dismissed for a superb 83 Recs needed 21 from 21 balls remaining.

In an exciting finish Recs needed five from the final over, captain Jenkins finished it with three balls remaining hoisting an enormous 6 back over the bowlers head to give Recs the victory.

Jenkins finished with 39 not out from 34 balls as Recs reached 186 for 6 from 46.3 overs to take the win, lifting them to fourth in the league.

The 3rd XI made it a hat trick of wins with an easy win over Birchfield Park BT.

Next week the 1st XI travel to top of the table Fleetwood Hesketh, the match being sponsored by the Interactive College.