BIRKENHEAD PARK are creating their own version of the Great Escape.
Just a few weeks ago their hopes of survival in the Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League First Division were hanging by a thread.
But their third win in a row by 16 runs against Poynton has finally lifted them out of the danger zone.
Simon Langford top scored with 62 in Park’s 178 and John Costain took 4-27 in the reply.
A trip to bottom club Alsager should hold few fears in the final match on Saturday as confidence has been restored, although their lead over Bredbury St Mark’s is only four points.
Oxton’s defeat at champions Macclesfield has put their chances of promotion in jeopardy. Chris Stenhouse’s 5-49 restricted the hosts to 132, but the Wirral side could only manage 121, despite Peter Benson’s 50. They are now six points behind second placed Heaton Mersey.
Teenager Ross Dixon, playing his first full season for Upton, took 8-36 against Timperley, who totalled 259, but the reply tottered at 135-9.
Neston are now battling for second place in the Premier League, after Oulton Park clinched the title for a third successive year and they lost at Alderley Edge by 63 runs.
Brad Donellan top scored with 89 for the Parkgate side, who were dismissed for 278 in reply to a home total of 341-6 declared.
Widnes managed only 75 to Oulton’s 275-7 declared.
Chester Boughton Hall were edged out by Bowdon, for whom Gareth Cross took 4-2 to dismiss the visitors for 123 (Warren Goodwin 59). Oliver Law took 4-39 in Bowdon’s 161.
The battle of the relegated clubs saw Darren Cruikshank hit 92 out of Christleton’s 219-7 declared, and Paul Eastwood followed that with 7-12 in Bramhall’s 155.
Warrington bounced back into the promotion spot in the second division after beating Winnington Park by five wickets.
