WHILE Nantwich were losing to Neston, Bowdon leaped into a crucial 15 points lead with two games left in the ECB Premier Division of the Chapel Press Cheshire County League.

Bowdon won by six wickets in a high-scoring game at South Downs Road against Widnes, who now face real relegation problems.

Widnes’ batting improved on last week’s 63 all out debacle and with 73 from James McCoy plus 66 to Zia Rehman they were able to declare at an impressive 246-9. Bowdon’s reply showed the merit of teamwork with five players topping 30 in Michael Bryan-Jones (53 not out), Gareth Cross (47), Carl Hey (46), Stephen Ball (36) and his brother Dominic Ball (30 not out) as they eased home at 247-4 with more than two overs left.

Deposed leaders Nantwich came unstuck at home to Neston, for whom stand-in bowler David Hurst again turned up trumps with a 4-49 return as they held the Dabbers to a modest 161-9, former Staffordshire batsman Nigel Davies scoring 70. Neston’s Australian batsman Damon Pavlinovich has had a thin season, but has scored runs against the top sides instance the impressive innings of 72 which steered his side to victory by three wickets with one over left.

Oulton Park are now joint second with Nantwich after a winning draw against Alderley Edge at Little Budworth when skipper Nathan Dumelow smashed 171, the league’s highest innings of the season. He and Cheshire colleague Rick Moore (74) added 212 for the fourth wicket after Oulton had started badly at 10-3, going on to close at 316-9 in their 55 overs. With Alderley Edge holding out at 220-7, Jason Whittaker 71, Charlie Reid 46, Guy Emmett 4-50, many in the crowd felt Oulton should have declared earlier.

Oxton were routed for 63 at home by Toft, who took a giant step towards safety by banking 20 points.