Thumping win takes Oulton closer

Just five points separate Bowdon from their close running rivals Oulton Park after the Chapel Press Cheshire Cricket League leaders suffered their second defeat of the summer at home to Alderley Edge.

The three wicket defeat was in stark contrast to the thumping 107 run win for Oulton Park at Macclesfield which puts them in sight of the 2009 title.

On a much-improved South Downs road pitch, Bowdon batsmen looked comfortable when they batted first and posted a useful 215 for six with 91 from Stephen Ball and 65 by in-form skipper Antony Crozier.

With a hard-working return of 4-48, Jason Whittaker was easily the pick of the Alderley attack, which included Lancashire’s Oliver Newby.

In reply, Alderley lost key early wickets but after Sohail Rauf had gone for a quality 44, the middle order of Andy Worrall (48) and ex-Bowdonian Richard Wilkinson (36) got their heads down and engineered a winning tally of 216 for seven with one over remaining. Gareth Cross took 3-59 for Bowdon whose only previous league defeat was at Oulton Park three weeks earlier.

Oulton took a brave decision to bat first on a very wet wicket at Macclesfield and did well to post 199 for nine, their innings being led by a quality 72 from Lancashire Academy batsman Jonny Kettle 71. Ben Spendlove weighed in with 41 and tail-ender Chris Jones a key 36. Barney Cutbill bowled with typical fire and determination to claim 5-70 off 15 overs.

Macclesfield’s batting, which has been found wanting most of the season collapsed to 92 all out in 37 overs after no player managed to reach 25. Five Oulton bowlers took two wickets apiece in an impressive all round team display which earned a 24 points reward.

Nantwich’s 10 match unbeaten run ended at Oxton where they were outbatted by the Wirralians, who used 60 overs to compile 191 for nine. Neil Cross made 65 and Ross Dixon 56 while Lou Vincent took 3-48.

Only Ray Doyle, 33, looked comfortable for the Dabbers and after former Kiwi Test batsman Vincent was beaten by skipper Andy Birley’s slower ball they slumped to 144 all out. Ross Dixon claimed 3-27 and his dad Gary 3-32.

Boughton Hall chalked up their second win of the season, by 82 runs, against a disappointing Toft side at Booths Park. Warren Goodwin (58) Maroof Khan (53) and skipper Ed Roberts (49) helped CBH declare on 220 for five, then Toft were dismissed for 138 despite 47 from Nigel Muirhead.

Teenage left-arm speedster Ashley Shaw took 4-25 and Maroof Khan 3-22.

After the mid week deduction of 60 points by the Appeal panel combined with their failure to take more than 11 points from a home draw against Neston, Widnes dropped into the bottom two.

It could have been worse had their last pair teenagers Evans and Roberts not held out to close on 199 for nine. Zia Rehman made 61 while Chris Finegan took 3-28 and occasional bowler David Hurst 3-49.

Earlier, skipper Jack Smith’s splendid knock of 106 held the Neston innings of 225 for nine together, while Tom Evans took 3-29 and Rehman 3-72.

There was a tight finish at Didsbury after Hyde declared on 198 for seven with Chris Tipper making 60 and Mike Morris 56. Didsbury's Paul Sperring 4-42 put in the best bowling performance of the day but it was not enough to earn victory as Didsbury, unbeaten in seven games, closed on 197 for seven after Greg Dixon struck an unbeaten 68 .