Pace duo spark Neston back to best form

Aug 27 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

NESTON shrugged off their recent indifferent form to register a seven-wicket win at Bramhall and retain a six points lead at the top of The Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League ECB Premier Division.

With three games to play, against Nantwich and Bowdon at home and Alderley Edge away, the Parkgate side are within sight of their first title since switching allegiance from the Liverpool Competition in 1998.

Their match-winners at Bramhall were pace duo Jon Farrow, 5-25, and Chris Finegan. 5-35, who bowled unchanged for 30 overs to dismiss the division’s bottom club for 72. Neston replied with 73-3, Jack Smith contributing 41 not out.

Reigning champions Oulton Park stay on Neston’s tail with a 115-run victory against Nantwich at Little Budworth. Oulton rattled up 280-8, Chris Bassano 88, Danny Leech 75, Nathan Dumelow 58, Derek Tate 4-70. Nantwich were then dismissed for 165, Paul Hampshire 45, Tate 35, Dumelow 3-77. Oulton have yet to play Hyde at home – a crucial fixture next Saturday – and Widnes and Chester away.

Hyde leaped into third place with a 121-run victory at Werneth Low which virtually consigned Christleton to First Division cricket in 2008. Hyde’s Chris Pilkington cracked 132 and James Duffy 54, both not out, in a massive tally of 268-2 in 49 overs. Rick Moore top-scored with a defiant 51 as Christleton were bowled out for 147, spinner Danny Woods claiming 4-47.

Urmston fell to fourth spot when they were unable to force a sorely-needed victory at Toft although they did set up a new league record. After opener Ben O’Brien had been dismissed for a duck, second wicket pair Adam Landry (152) and Chris Watson (125) enjoyed an unbroken partnership of 297 in a declared tally of 297-1. Toft limped to 167-7 in reply, Adam Carolan 52, Craig Grindley 4-46.

Chester Boughton Hall moved into mid-table after a five-run win against Alderley Edge at Filkins Lane after reaching 184-7, Matt Griffiths 61, Chris Reid 4-58. After their excellent Indian batsman Sohail Rauf had been dismissed for 66, Alderley collapsed to 179 all out against the spin of Shane Jones, 5-62.