Cheshire ready for title decider

Aug 9 2007 by Neil Goulding, Liverpool Daily Post

CHESHIRE were forced to settle for a draw against Oxfordshire in their penultimate three-day match in the Minor Counties Championship Western Division yesterday.

Resuming on 137-3, the visitors were dismissed for 340 in 113.5 overs, leaving the hosts just 31 overs to reach a winning target for 350.

But although a victory might have been likely, the match was abandoned due to bad light after just five overs with Oxfordshire 7-0.

Chester Boughton Hall batsman Warren Goodwin, promoted to open the batting, top-scored with 83, while Danny Leech (71), Jason Whittaker (58) and James Duffy (44) were also in the runs.

Both teams took 11 points for their efforts, four each for the draw and seven bonus batting and fielding points respectively.

However, second-placed Shropshire grabbed a dramatic two-wicket victory away to Wiltshire when their match looked to be heading for a draw on the last day, keeping their title hopes alive.

Following a rain break, Shropshire needed just over 100 runs to win from the final 17 overs. A further break for rain left them requiring 63 off the last seven overs with five wickets left.

And although they lost three more wickets, Jack Shantry (72) and Bruce Thomason (62) secured an unlikely victory for the visitors.

Cheshire led the Division by 21 points, which was extended to 32 points with their 11 draw points against Oxfordshire.

But Shropshire took 23 points from their win away to Wiltshire and now trail by just nine points going into the last game of the season, a match which will decide the title race.

In what promises to be a fantastic finish to the season, the two teams clash at Nantwich Cricket Club between 19-21 August.

And Cheshire skipper Andy Hall said: “We’ve got a slight advantage over Shropshire, but we can’t afford to lose the match.

“If we win or draw, then we’ve won the Western Division and we’ll go on to play in the Minor Counties Championship final.”