Father and son duo mastermind two wicket win

May 31 2006 Wirral News

THE first meeting under CD Bramall Trucks Cheshire County League auspices of Wirral neighbours Upton and Irby produced only 190 runs in 95 tense overs and a two wicket triumph for the Old Greasby Road men masterminded by father and son seam bowlers Gary and Lee Dixon.

Irby looked lost when they were dismissed for 93, Simon Renshaw top-scoring with 30 while Gary Dixon (5-25) and his skipper son Lee (3-14) did the damage. It was then Irby's turn to take advantage of a rare bowl-er's pitch at Upton and Chris Gibson's 4-43 almost snatched victory but for a match-winning innings of 26 from Andy Becher that helped Upton scrape through at 97-8 to go second in the Second Division.

Sale are 18 points clear after winning their fifth game by four wickets after rolling Congleton over for 67. The Grappenhall and Warrington clash ended with honours, even though Grappen-hall shaded the draw points 10-8. In Division One, title rivals Timperley and Chester Boughton Hall was rained off, allowing Urmston to stretch their lead to 13 points after beating Bollington, who they dismissed for 116. Aussie Ben O'Brien hit 62 not out. Poynton had a five-wicket home win against Didsbury, who were removed for 98 with David Watkins taking 4-24 and Simon Turner 4-31. Heaton Mersey had their first win despite Aussie Evan Gulbis hammering a 104 out of the 201-9 posted by visitors Macclesfield. Sound knocks from Matt Norbury 69 and Johnny Rashid 60 saw Mersey home by two wickets with one over left. Cheadle had skip-per Paul Sperring to thank. He took 3-22 in Cheadle Hulme's declaration at 179-6 and Sperring added 74 cultured runs to steer his side home by six wickets. Alsager and Winnington Park was off.