Special delivery for Neston skipper
NestonCC captained by Jack Smith
Halfway through masterminding Neston's recovery, Jack Smith had to leave the field at Parkgate to face a yet more pressing delivery - the birth of a second son - leaving his side in a pickle against Hyde.
Smith had arrived at the crease with Neston floundering badly on 70 for seven and after hitting an unbeaten 76 was surprised to see team manager Bob Cooke running onto the field with a mobile phone.
He left immediately after hearing his wife had gone into labour, by which time Neston appeared to be out of trouble - or so they thought - on 147 for seven.
Smith was officially retired out, according to umpire Don Flanagan but Neston were dismissed for 170 in 45 overs with Cambridge UCCE paceman Rob Woolley, who returned his seasons best figures of 20-4-56-8, proving to be the star of the Hyde attack.
Hyde stalled at 50 for two in response but went on to win without losing any more wickets by reaching 171 for two, with Danny Leech on 66 and James Duffy 59. They move up to fourth in the table, dramatically turning the tables on their poor form a month earlier when they were in bottom place.
Second-placed Toft also lost by 46 runs at Oulton Park and the reigning champions could yet prove to be Neston’s principal challengers during the second-half of the season.
Jonny Kettle scored 57 and Rick Moore 51 in Park’s total of 193, spinners Jeremy Hart taking 5-50 and Jamie Lomas 5-68.
Rossall schoolmaster Guy Emmett’s post-tea burst of 5-53 proved too much for Toft who were all out for 147.
Chester Boughton Hall amassed the highest tally of the summer when they declared on 333 for three at Nantwich, Warren Goodwin contributing an elegant 157 with recently-arrived Indian all-rounder Ajit Ranjan (77) helping him in a stand of 183 for the second wicket.
Nantwich reached 226 for six in reply, with Ashley Shaw making 55 not out and Ranjan finishing with 3-55.
Oxton recovered from their mauling by Oulton Park a week earlier to end Bowdon’ s recent improved run.
Bowdon declared on 163 for nine (Carl Hey 53, Ross Dixon 4-25, Mark Rowland 4-38) and Oxton went on to win by two wickets at 164 for eight, Sean Moore 43 not out, Lee Dixon 37 – topping 500 for the season – while Lancashire paceman Matt Cheetham took 4-38.
Skipper Paul Sperring had a good day for Didsbury in their winning draw at Alderley Edge. Melbourne-born Sperring was unbeaten with exactly 100 when he declared his team’s innings at 228 for five.
Then, when Alderley replied with 180 for nine (Mark Currie 51), Sperring’s off-spin earned him figures of 20-4-65-4 and Jonny Fawcett 3-41. An unusual feature of this game was injuries to both side’s opening bowlers, Jason Whittaker (in his 12th) and Nick Anderson (his first) both being unable to complete overs.
Bottom of the table Bramhall had the better of a drawn game at Urmston, declaring on 262 for four with 98 from Cheshire wicket-keeper Matt Dawson and 66 by John Harris. Urmston got to 238 for seven, Sean Clarence’s 62 taking him over the 500-runs mark and stand-in skipper Mike Ness making 58, while Nick Bell took 5-69.
There was a happy ending to the Smith saga when Jack’s wife giving birth to the couple’s second boy, Finlay Edward weighing 6 lb 8oz, just a few hours before Father’s Day.
