Decisive win for CBHCC

THE ECB Premier League’s current Big Three – Chester Boughton Hall, Hyde and Nantwich – all won decisively on Saturday and are beginning to pull away from the rest of the field as the season’s half-way mark approaches.

After three games without a win, Boughton Hall returned to form with a crushing 174 runs victory at Toft, piling up 296-2 in 50 overs, including two century stands: 154 between openers Warren Goodwin (I08) and Steve Ogilby (56), then 108 for the third wicket between Lancashire T20 specialist Jordan Clark, 65 and Ollie Law, 57, both not out. This against a Toft attack which included former Lancashire and England paceman Peter Martin (0-47 off 11 overs). Toft were dismissed for 122, Pat Roberts 34, Daron Cruikshank 4-41, while good support with 2-39 came from Lancashire Academy quickie Chris Connolly, who was in the club’s 3rd XI two weeks ago.

Hyde also won by 174 runs at Neston, who experienced a thoroughly miserable day, their visitors piling up 266-4, Tom Twiney 81, James Duffy 50, Dave Fitzsimmons 45 and Dan Walker 41. Neston were then routed for 92, to which Jack Smith contributed 33. Leading the attack in the absence on Cambridge UCCE duties of Rob Woolley, left-arm seamer Scott Kirwin claimed 6-39.

Nantwich kept up the pressure with a six wickets home win against Alderley Edge after their visitors had declared on 219-9, Adam Worrall 78, Jimmy Warrington 4-78. The Dabbers replied with 223-4, Chris Simpson 75, Glen Batticciotto 48, but with only one over to spare.

Urmston move up

Now in fourth place 31 points behind the Dabbers are fast-improving Urmston following a winning draw in a rain-reduced game at Oulton Park, where they piled up 260-3. Top scorers were the prolific Chris Watson, 95, Craig Grindley, 81 (122 stand for the openers) and 75 from Sumit Panda (129 for the second wicket pairing of Watson and Panda) . Once again, skipper Robin Taylor undertook a marathon stint for his under-powered attack with figures of 22-0-119-2. Keen to obtain what could prove to be valuable draw points, Oulton put up the shutters to close on 165-7 from 49 overs, Louis Bentley 49, Adam Syddall 3-49.

The division’s surprise packet, Macclesfield secured a last over win at Grappenhall when Rob Porter claimed wickets with the second and third balls to dismiss the home side for 191, James McCoy 95. Grappenhall slumped from 123-1 and 143-3 when victory looked well within their grasp, but Porter, 4-23 and three wickets in an over from Tom Barron, 3-28, turned the tables. Earlier, Macclesfield had declared on 195-8, John Ward 66, Rob Porter 58, Guy Emmett 4-51.

Oxton came away with a creditable 14-8 points draw from their visit to Didsbury after posting 208-8, Ross Dixon 65 and Andy Gibson 51. Didsbury got to 143-7 in a rain-shortened reply, Nick Anderson – who has taken over the captaincy from Paul Sperring - scoring 68 not out and Abhinavan Arumugan 58. Andy Birley took 3-48.