Toft toppled by Oxton’s Dixon and Rowland

Aug 18 2010 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

OXTON recorded a four wickets win at Toft where the home side looked well set after declaring on 241-8.

Simon Hardstaff hit 66, Pat Roberts 61, Gary Dixon took 3-39. But the Oxton batsman again delivered, with Lee Dixon hitting 86, Mark Rowland 60 and Simon Stokes 42 not out.

Hyde and Nantwich recorded thrilling last over victories against Bowdon and Neston respectively to retain the top two places in the ECB Premier Division of the Chapel Press Cheshire County League.

Hyde moved nine points clear thanks to a two wickets win at Bowdon where they replied with 174-8 with three balls remaining, James Duffy 60, Gareth Edwards bowling unchanged to return 6-62 . Earlier, they had restricted Bowdon to 173-9, their Lancashire Academy batsman Jordan Clark making 43 and spinner Danny Cranmer taking 5-54.

Nantwich, meanwhile, made it eight wins on the trot off the final delivery of a tense home game against Neston, whose challenge for their first title appears to have evaporated after early promise.

Neston came up against former New Zealand Test all-rounder Lou Vincent in commanding form, the Auckland man taking 7-57 to hold Neston to a declared tally of 216-8, Jack Smith 54, Chris Hackett 44 not out. In a match reduced to 96 overs by heavy morning rain in South Cheshire, Nantwich responded with 217-3 off the final delivery with the large crowd on their feet. With 92, Vincent starred with the bat, alongside Rob Howells 81.

In a fixture certain to have a bearing on the destination of the title – which neither club has ever won – Hyde meet Nantwich next Saturday.

Chester Boughton Hall’s Warren Goodwin scored his sixth century in 22 days and his fourth in the league on successive Saturdays, when he helped his side up to the dizzy heights of fourth in the table with a six wickets win at Urmston.

The 2009 First Division champions were bowled out for 209, Adam Landry 61, Ajit Ranjan 5-51 after which Chester coasted home with six wickets and six overs to spare on 214-4, Goodwin 111 and Ollie Law, 80, enjoying a century stand.

At Little Budworth, Oulton Park routed Didsbury for 71 (Guy Emmett 4-33, Nathan Dumelow 4-19) and went on to win by six wickets. Skipper Jason Whittaker was the stand out player in Alderley Edge’s win against bottom team Bramhall. He took 4-40 to help bowl Bramhall out for 140, Andrew Hall 30, then top-scored with an unbeaten 68 as his side won by seven wickets.