RETURNING to form after a bad patch which scuppered their title hopes, Neston beat Bowdon by two wickets at Parkgate to clinch runners-up spot in the ECB Premier Division of The Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League.
To reach their best placing since moving from the Liverpool Competition in 1998, Neston replied with 229-8, Aussie Jack Smith making 80, Chris Hackett 54 and skipper Stan Clifford 43 not out. Earlier, they had restricted Bowdon to 228-6 (Richard Wilkinson 80, Dominic Ball 47) paceman Jon Farrow claiming 4-34.
After being presented with the championship trophy for the third season running, Oulton Park turned in a less than vintage performance at Chester Boughton Hall, yet a draw enabled them to finish 15 points clear with an undefeated record. Park recovered to post 228-9 (Jonny Guest 74, Guy Emmett 49 not out, Warren Goodwin 3-25, Alex Kegg 3-71). Chester reached 197-7 thanks to Matt Griffiths’ 53 and 44 from Goodwin, while spinners Nathan Dumelow took 4-85 and Chris Jones 3-42.
Alderley Edge’s star Sohail Rauf followed up his 161 against Toft the previous week with a magnificent innings of 143 in a 90 runs victory over relegated Christleton. This gives Rauf 1,103 runs for the season, a Premiership record. Mark Currie hit 59 to reach 978 in his side’s tally of 306-9 (Paul Allen 4-111). Christleton were dismissed for 216, Guy Newell and Paul Allen both making 45.
Widnes lost at Toft, after posting 147, Toft replying with 149-5.
The season’s only premiership hat-trick was claimed by Hyde left-arm paceman Tom Young with a 5-30 return which routed bottom club Bramhall for 56. Hyde stuttered to 59-5.
