Neston get caught out by Dyson’s magic

Aug 1 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

NESTON looked certain to beat Widnes and reach the last four of the Cheshire Cricket Knock-out Cup in a pulsating quarter-final at Parkgate – until they were foiled by a moment of magic.

Widnes had scored 194-4 (Sean Moore 49, James McCoy 44) and Neston were poised on 192-9 when tailender Gareth Yardley let fly.

The shot had boundary written all over it only for Widnes fielder Gareth Dyson to pull off a miraculous catch and clinch a classic one-wicket victory. Teenager David Hurst top-scored with 48 for Neston, who had lost narrowly to the same opposition on the same ground in a league match two weeks earlier.

Oxton had no such problems against Burnage in a tie switched from the east-Manchester club’s unfit ground to Townfield Lane.

Burnage were held to 139, Andy Birley 4-22 after which the Oxton openers knocked off the runs in 27 overs, Simon Stokes 64 and Chris Davies 56.

The fourth quarter-final between Chester Boughton Hall and New Brighton is at Filkins Lane on Sunday.

Semi-final draw (dates to be agreed): Oxton v Chester or New Brighton; Oulton Park v Widnes.

In the quarter-finals of the Cheshire Shield, Heaton Mersey won by three wickets at Hale Barns, Davenham beat Marple by eight wickets and Cheadle Hulme won a high-scoring game at Malpas.