Oulton nail it with Nantwich win

Oulton Park clinched their fourth Chapel Press Cheshire Premier Cricket League title in five seasons when they coasted to an eight wickets victory against rivals Nantwich in the season’s final game.

Oulton restricted the Dabbers to a total of 193 in their 60 overs, with skipper Andy Newton top-scoring with 50, while his counterpart Nathan Dumelow claimed 4-55 and left-arm paceman Guy Emmett returned a marathon 4-101 off 30 unchanged overs.

Park replied with 195 for two, Ben Spendlove finishing unbeaten on 75 and Danny Leech making 57. They were presented with the Murray Smith Championship Trophy and flag by League chairman David Humpage to the delight of a large contingent of supporters in the biggest crowd of the season at Whitehouse Lane.

Bowdon lost at home by four wickets to Chester Boughton Hall and ended up 23 points behind the champions after another below par batting performance. They totalled only 159, Antony Crozier 39, while Ollie Law enjoyed his best senior figures of 6-47.
Chester, who had beaten Nantwich the previous week, coasted home at 162 for six, Matt Griffiths 67 not out, Gareth Edwards 4-35. Bowdon’s Cheshire paceman Adam Syddall injured his shoulder fielding and was taken to hospital by ambulance after a lengthy stoppage.

Retiring champions Alderley Edge wound up an honourable fourth considering the problems which beset the club in early season and a week after their Cheshire Cup triumph at Elworth.

Hosts Hyde totted up 249 with Danny Berry scoring 82 and Jason Whittaker taking 4-42. Alderley’s Sohail Rauf (102 not out) and Mark Currie (101) then put together a second wicket partnership of 151, Currie becoming the third premiership batsman to pass 1,000 runs and they won by six wickets with 19 overs to spare.

Neston finished fifth after a winning draw away to Wirral rivals Oxton. Neston posted 232 for five, Jack Smith making 79 and David Hurst 65. Ross Dixon took 3-60 after which Oxton were content to play out time at 141 for seven, with Neil Cross contributing 54.

When Neston skipper Smith had scored 67 he passed the all-time club record runs in a season total of 1,133 set up by Eddie Bates back in their Liverpool Competition days in 1933.

The legendary Ken Cranston’s best season was 1,059 runs in 1951. With a total of 1,145, Smith also passes the Premiership runs record of 1,103 set up by Alderley Edge’s Rauf in 2007.

Widnes are relegated despite winning their final game by nine runs at Didsbury. The consistent Tony Hurdley top-scored with 57 in Widnes’ tally of 215 (Andy Windle 4-46), after which Didsbury were bowled out for 206, Paul Sperring 74, Sean Moore enjoying a fine spell of 5-65.

Macclesfield finally accepted the wooden spoon and a drop into Division One when they lost by 37 runs at home to Toft after bowling out their visitors for 189 with Shaun Mudalige making 67 and Tom Baron taking 4-30.

Macclesfield’s batsmen, the weakness all season, were bowled out for 152 (Khalid Sawas 53) by Toft spinners Josh Bean and Nigel Muirhead, with 5-77 and 4-31 respectively. Toft won their last three games, picking up 64 points.