ONLY three games – one in each division - survived the season’s first wet Saturday in the Chapel Press Cheshire County League.

Jun 10 2009 by Terry Owen, Birkenhead News

ONLY three games – one in each division – survived the season’s first wet Saturday in the Chapel Press Cheshire County League.

Toft moved into the top half of the ECB Premier Division thanks to a dramatic last wicket stand of 56 after they had looked a beaten side against bottom club Didsbury, who totalled 114 (Phil Laikes 46, John Bean 5-47).

Toft crumbled to 59-9 against fine seam bowling by Andy Windle (7-57), until Tasmanian all-rounder Bean was joined by number 11 batsman Dave Brock.

The pair then knocked off the runs with Bean finishing on 33 and Brock 23. This victory moved Toft up into fifth place.

Cheadle Hulme moved up to second spot behind Bramhall in Division One with a winning draw at Poynton, batting well to declare on 205-8, with 41 from Dan Forbes and 38 by Durham Academy wicketkeeper /batsman Chris Durham. Veteran opener Brian Kingham, last season’s divisional player of the year, contributed a fine 87 to Poynton’s reply of 150-7, Mark Higginbottom taking 5-40.

Bollington stretched their lead in Division Two to 16 points over Middlewich with a straightforward 10 timbers triumph at Bredbury St Mark’s.

Bredbury were dismissed for 105, Mo Ali taking 5-21 and Abdul Aqeel 3-41. The Bollington openers then knocked off the runs in 24 overs, Rick Hough hitting 51 and Callum Rowe 47.

Danny Leach’s innings of 90 not out for Oulton Park against Nantwich on May 30 made him the first League batsman ever to top 500 runs before the end of May.

Leading performers:

Premier League Batsmen:

Danny Leach (Oulton Park) 530 (ave 132.5); Jack Smith (Neston) 430; Warren Goodwin (Chester Boughton Hall) 351; David Hurst (Neston) 327; James Duffy (Hyde) 308.

Premier League Bowlers:

At ur Rehman (Widnes) 26 wickets; Gareth Cross (Bowdon); Jason Whittaker (Alderley Edge) 22; Chris Finegan (Neston) and Alex Kegg (Chester) both 21.

First Division Batsmen:

Mark Bennett (Heaton Mersey) 379 runs; Matt Dawson (Bramhall) 363; Iroshan de Silva (Christleton) 303; Damien Stringer (Bramhall) 247; David Bates (Christleton) 245.

First Division Bowlers:

Simon Wilkinson (Bramhall) and Saja Sahabuddin (Heaton Mersey) both 28 wickets; Matt Wilkie (Timperley) & Ewan McCray (Cheadle Hulme) both 22; Damien Stringer (Bramhall) 15.

Second Division Batsmen:

James Cornford (Middlewich) 432 runs (average 108); Hassam Khan (Sale) 373 (average 186.5); Mark Vincent (Stockport Georgians) 303; John Taylor (Sale) 301; John Birchall (Brooklands) 287.

Second Division Bowling:

Mo Ali (Bollington) 20 wickets; Rick Halkon (Sale) 19; Andy Greasley (Marple) 17; Tom Cullen (Bollington), Gavin Tomlinson (Middlewich), John Leggett (Stockport Georgians) & Graham Barlow (Bredbury St Mark’s) all 16.