Cricket: Birley’s men look for victory against runaway leaders

Sep 4 2007 by Mike Talbot-Butler, Liverpool Daily Post

OXTON remain on course for an immediate return to the ECB Premier Division in The Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League after beating Didsbury.

But Andy Birley’s team need a result at First Division leaders Macclesfield in the penultimate fixture on Saturday.

Oxton rattled up 232-6dec against Didsbury, Tony Birley 76, Simon Stokes 64, before dismissing the visitors for 158, Australian Dean Treuer taking 4-47 and Andy Birley 3-56. Macclesfield, meanwhile, retained a healthy 35 points lead by winning at Upton after the Wirral men had been restricted to 143, Nick Rivett 32, Craig Melrose 4-37. Macclesfield coasted home at 145-6, Khalid Sawas 73.

Heaton Mersey had a six-wicket win at Cheadle whom they restricted to 182-8.

Birkenhead Park registered their second successive big victory at the expense of Bollington and retain a slim chance of avoiding the drop. Another fine innings from Tom Hunter (61) on a near-perfect pitch helped Park post 193, then a 4-19 return by Chris Foran and 3-47 from Matt Shaw dispatched Bollington for 138. To avoid the drop, Park need to win both their remaining games, at home to Poynton and away to bottom club Alsager, who are quitting the league.

Best innings of the day in Division Two came from former Cheshire batsman Nafees Din with a match-winning 102 not out in Mobberley’s victory over Grappenhall. Beaten by four wickets at Hale Barns, Warrington are in danger of missing out on promotion. They were bowled out for 124 and dropped to third place.

Burnage are 10 points above them after a winning draw against Middlewich, while leaders Cheadle Hulme ensured a promotion spots with a 72-run win against Irby.

Irby have suffered a disastrous run of results and have dropped to 10th place, just nine points above the club currently in the one relegation spot Winnington Park. Winnington enjoyed a 15-10 winning draw against Congleton at the Rec, but stay bottom. Winnington visit Warrington on Saturday in a fixture vital to both clubs 2008 aspirations.

In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, the top two places are occupied by Stockport Georgians and Marple and both will be promoted to the County League if their is no change.