Cricket: Draw sees Oxton extend lead at the top of the table

May 20 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

THERE was a thrilling finish to the top match in the First Division of The Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League, when Oxton emerged with sufficient draw points to keep their place at the top of the table.

Didsbury were bowled out for 196, Tom Pearson taking 6-46 and skipper Andy Birley 3-49. With Chris Davies contributing 57 and the skipper’s brother Anthony Birley 52, Oxton got desperately close at 193-9 when overs ran out.

Oxton’s 11 points return stretched their lead to six over second-placed Warrington, whose game against Upton at Walton Lea was a casualty of the weather.

Christleton’s early-season form suggests they could be in the running for a speedy return to the premiership, especially as they have unearthed a star all-rounder in Sri Lankan Iroshan da Silva. Christleton won by seven wickets at Cheadle after bowling their hosts out for 139 and in a reply of 140-3, da Silva batted his way to a stylish unbeaten 67.

Birkenhead Park’s struggles continued when they were held to a losing draw at home by Cheadle Hulme, who declared on 205-5, David Hawes 58, Tod McDonald 53no. Skipper Andy Gibson, Park’s batting mainstay this season, ground it out for an unbeaten 62 in 50 overs to see his side close on a modest 146-6.

Best innings of the day came from Timperley left-hander Tom Twiney with 97 not out in his side’s five-wicket defeat of Poynton.

Irby’s Australian batsman Nathan Woods turned in another sparkling innings to help the Wirral club record a seven-wicket win at Marple and keep up the Mill Hill Road men’s Second Division promotion push. Marple scored 200-7, teenage leg-spinner George McCaffrey again taking the eye with a 5-52 return. Irby responded with 201-3, Woods failing one run short of a deserved century.

Tattenhall stay top of the division even though they managed only 14 points from a high-scoring draw with Hale Barns. John Gibbon posted an impressive 84 in Tattenhall’s 215-5 and Hale Barns gave good chase to get to 182-4, Alan Wood 65.

Grappenhall’s game against Burnage at Broad Lane was rained-off.