Vanquished Neston defy drop

Despite being dismissed for the season’s lowest ECB Premier League score of 58 and being thrashed by rivals Oxton, Neston lost little ground in their championship bid after their five challengers failed to record wins.

A fine innings of 73 from Sean Moore highlighted Oxton’s modest tally of 162 at Parkgate, Chris Fingan taking 5-62 and Jordan Free 3-22.

But Neston were all at sea against the twin pace attack of Andy Birley (5-27) and former Blackrod (Bolton Association) player Waqar Ahmed, who claimed 5-30 on debut to give Oxton victory by a massive 104 runs.

Alderley Edge moved into second spot, 33 points behind Neston, with a winning draw at home to Toft in a game which realised 562 runs for the loss of only 13 wickets.

A partnership for the third wicket of 190 between wicketkeeper Andy Worrall (101) and Richard Wilkinson (100) highlighted the Alderley innings of 310 for four compiled in just 50 overs.

Toft responded with a spirited 252 for nine, Shaun Mudalige 46, Mark Warnes 3-36. Toft’s last pair of Rupert Kitzinger and Jeremy Hart held out for 10 overs adding 41 runs to reduce Alderley’s tally from 25 to 17 points.

Oulton Park’s recent winning run came to an end at Bowdon, where Lancashire Academy batsman Jordan Clark proved a match-winner with a magnificent innings of 95 not out.

Clark led the way as Bowdon replied with 201 for four in a speedy 42 overs to the 2009 champions’ tally of 197, Ben Spendlove 52.

Bowdon off-spinner Gareth Edwards, producer of the BBC’s popular ‘Question of Sport’ programme bowled unchanged to return 6-80 off 27 overs.

Another good run halted was that of Hyde, who finished second best at home to Chester Boughton Hall.

Opting to bat first, the home side ran up an impressive 277 for five, skipper Jim Gillson 94 not out, Ed Roberts 83 with Tom Young taking 3-92.

Hyde closed on 211 for seven, Chris Pilkington 65, Danny Berry 51.

Former New Zealand Test man Lou Vincent dominated Nantwich’s maximum points home victory over Urmston, which lifts his side into the top half of the table for the first time this season.

Vincent contributed an unbeaten 102 and Chris Simpson 56 to a second wicket stand worth 143 as the Dabbers replied with 179 for two to the all-out 177 posted by Urmston.

Adam Landry made an unbeaten 64 while Jimmy Warrington took 4-88. Vincent cleaned up the tail with 3-22 as the last six Urmston batsmen failed to hit double figures.

Bottom club Bramhall lost their 10th game in 13 and seem certain to be relegated after going down by 99 runs at home to 11th placed Didsbury, who scored 212 for seven batting first in the full 60 overs.

David Morgan made 48 not out, Greg Dixon 48 and Andy Hayes seized 3-84.

Bramhall’s batsmen again let them down and Kieron O’Connor contributed practically 50 per cent of their 113 tally with a fighting 55.

His colleagues had no answer to the probing medium pace of Nick Anderson who had the excellent figures of 6-46.