Batticciotto bows out ahead of Queensland return

May 17 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

NANTWICH’s star Overseas batsman Glen Batticciotto who has twice topped 150 in four innings in The Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League ECB Premier Division this season, makes his last appearance against Chester Boughton Hall today before being recalled to Australia to take up a first-class appointment with Queensland on June 1.

Batticciotto’s loss will be a heavy one for the Dabbers as they are not being allowed to replace the Brisbane big-hitter, who looked capable of taking the league by storm.

Match of the day is at South Downs Road where top of the table Bowdon’s 100 per cent record is at stake when they host reigning champions Oulton Park, as strong as ever despite the loss of Chris Bassano, John Davies and Mike Bentham.

At Urmston, Stan Clifford’s Neston will be aiming to bounce back after losing to Bowdon, while Widnes visit Toft buoyed by their success against Nantwich.

Alderley Edge expect to have Lancashire paceman Oliver Newby on debut for their home game against Macclesfield and they need his cutting edge after losing at Oulton Park.

Top game in Division One is at Walton Lea where second-placed Warrington host Upton, third, who have won three of their first four games.

Divisional leaders Oxton face a stiff task at Didsbury, who also have promotion ambitions in their 150th anniversary season. After being waterlogged for the first month of the season following heavy April rains, the Bramhall ground has at last been passed fit for play for their home match against Bollington.

Birkenhead Park, whose pitch has received rich praise this season, hope to build on an improved performance at Warrington with their first win, at home to Cheadle Hulme.

Ben Thomas’s Irby aim to parade their Division Two promotion potential when they make the long cross-county journey to Marple, while Steve Titchard’s improving Grappenhall side host Burnage and early leaders Tattenhall host Hale Barns at Flacca Field.

TODAY ECB Premier League (1pm): Alderley Edge v Macclesfield; Bowdon v Oulton Park; Heaton Mersey v Hyde; Nantwich v Chester Boughton Hall; Toft v Widnes; Urmston v Neston.

Division 1 (1.30pm): Birkenhead Park v Cheadle Hulme; Bramhall v Bollington; Cheadle v Christleton; Didsbury v Oxton; Timperley v Poynton; Warrington v Upton.

Division 2 (1.30pm): Grappenhall v Burnage; Marple v Irby; Middlewich v Bredbury; Mobberley v Winnington Park; Sale v Stockport Georgians; Tattenhall v Hale Barns.

TOMORROW Cheshire Cup 2nd round (1.30 pm): Alderley Park v Davenham; Warrington x Oxton; Marple v Burnage; Birkenhead Park v Stockport; Rode Park v Grappenhall; Lindow v Lymm; Chelford v Compstall; Hollingsworth v Bredbury; Parkfield Liscard v Poynton; Brooklands v Upton; Northwich v Cheadle Hulme; Sale v Middlewich; Chester County Officers v Bollington; Romiley v Didsbury; Elworth v Timperley.

Cockspur Cup 2nd round (1pm): Leyland v Chester Boughton Hall; Urmston v Sefton Park; Chorley v Widnes; Alderley Edge v Kearsley; Bootle v Bowdon; Neston v Darcy Lever; Wolverhampton v Nantwich.