WITH Hyde surprisingly losing for the first time in 12 months at home to Macclesfield, Chester Boughton Hall were able to surge into a 17-point lead at the top of the Chapel Press Cheshire County League ECB Premier Division by whipping Alderley Edge at Filkins Lane.
Chester rattled up 260-5 declared with Trinidadian all-rounder Daron Cruikshank (72), Warren Goodwin (71) and skipper Jim Gillson (58 not out) leading the way. Alderley were dismissed for 198, Cruikshank ensuring his club’s fourth successive victory with a 4-77 return, while Trevor Fabian claimed 3-25.
Last beaten in the league at Toft on May 8, 2010, Hyde looked odds-on victors on Saturday when they declared at 198-9 at home to Macclesfield, Danny Berry 42, Rob Brierley 40, Tom Barron 4-71. But they reckoned without a swashbuckling innings of 95 not out from 84 deliveries by veteran Rob Porter which carried last season’s First Division champions to a notable four-wicket win.
Oxton also pulled off a notable away victory against Urmston chasing 209-8 declared (Samit Panda 67, Craig Grindley 54, Andy Birley 4-77). Oxton knocked off the runs in just 32 overs at 211-6, skipper Lee Dixon crashing a rapid unbeaten 83 and Mark Rowland 66.
Jack Smith scored a magnificent unbeaten 111 to carry Neston to a five-wicket win against Didsbury at Parkgate. Didsbury declared on 233-9, Pat Moors 85, Abhinavan Arumugam 81, Jordan Free 5-43. This was no problem for Neston who were home and dry with 12 overs to spare thanks to Smith, who had been dismissed for 99 the previous week.
Apart from Chester, reigning champions Nantwich are the only unbeaten team in the top flight, but they had to settle for their fourth successive draw in a high-scoring game against Oulton Park on the excellent Whitehouse Lane batting track. Highlight was an unbroken stand of 292 – five short of the league record – for the second wicket between giant Queenslander Glen Batticciotto (176) and Cheshire opener Jonny Kettle (107), which enabled skipper Andy Newton to declare at 317-1 after 50 overs. Oulton’s bowling may be weak, but their batting remains strong and they replied with a sound 210-4, the innings losing the last 17 overs to rain which could have foiled them of victory. Louis Bentley contributed 60, Martyn East 59 and Rick Moore 40.
Grappenhall shaded their visit to Toft by 12 points to 10 in another rain-hit game. Former Lancashire player Rick Green top-scored with 73 in Grappenhall’s declared tally of 223-9, Nigel Muirhead 3-66. Toft had reached 166-3 when play ended 12 overs early, Adam Carolan 72, Pat Roberts 64 not out.
