MALPAS' slim promotion hopes have all but gone after they tumbled to defeat in the final over against Davenham in Division One on Saturday. Kiwi James Crichton led the way with a brisk 70, Mark Dunning added 40 and 39 from Keith Rickett plus 18no from Danny Lloyd saw Malpas forge on to 227-8. But Davenham's overseas player Andy Baker (69) and Chris Hornby (80) guided them home. Dave Hunt was the pick of Malpas' bowlers with 3-54. ALVANLEY entertained CHOLMONDELEY and were invited to bat first after the visitors won the toss. The top order struggled to gain any momentum and, at 45-3, 14-year-old Ben Pearce was the only top-order batsman to make an impact, finding the boundary three times before he was bowled for 31. Alvanley had slumped to 90-6 but then James Rowlinson (28) launched Richard Cooke's bowling for a huge six in each of the last two overs, helping himself to three fours in the last from Ed Middleton as Alvanley reached 153-7. After tea, Rowlinson bowled Chums' Phil Evans with his third delivery as the visitors quickly found themselves at 7-2. Guy Ford thumped a few boundaries in a quick-fire 31 before succumbing to the spin of Dave Shewring and a mini-collapse left Chums at 63-5. Middleton (30) and Mark Jones (27) launched a counter-attack, ended by Pete Pearce and Shewring (4-48) as Cholmondeley were all out for 131. In Division Two, BARROW set a decent score of 143-9 against Pott Shrigley as they made a last-gasp bid for promotion. Matt Morris and Phil Noble then dismissed the openers swiftly, leaving Sam Walker and Mal Barrow to capture the middle order. Lee Dwyer saw off the last two batsmen to finish Shrigley on 82 all out and earn 25 points for Barrow. In Division Three, CHESTER COUNTY OFFICERS' promotion bid was interrupted as they lost at home to Northwich. They finished their innings on 176-5 after a poor batting show was salvaged by vice-captain Mike Clarke's 56 and stubborn opener Tony Hattersley, carrying his bat for 57no. Officers' seamers then struggled with no movement to help them. A century stand was broken by an astonishing catch at slip by Andy Barlow off Clarke, followed quickly by a run out. But the score was 118-2 and only one more wicket was taken, sending Northwich to the top of the table as they reached a winning 177-3. | 
