Johnny Kettle with another century

THE top places in the ECB Premier League continue to change weekly, reigning champions Nantwich leap-frogging Hyde on Saturday to establish a 10 points lead.

The Dabbers’ eight wickets demolition of Urmston enabled them to go ahead of their rivals, both of whom have yet to visit Whitehouse Lane, Hyde on August 20 and Chester on September 3.

Urmston batted well enough to post 217-8 after being 2-2, Adam Landry 81, Jimmy Warrington 4-68. But Nantwich made light of that with a reply of 220-2 in just 49 overs, Jonny Kettle scoring a fine 106 to add to the five victims claimed behind the stumps pre-tea. He enjoyed the company in a second wicket stand worth 144, of prolific Aussie Glen Batticciotto whose unbeaten 82 takes his runs tally to 1,154. Kettle, now with four centuries, has 875.

Chester bounced back after their heavy defeat at Alderley Edge to chalk up a five wickets win against Macclesfield at Filkins Lane. Macc were bowled out for 198, Khalid Sawas 69, Jack Ward 42 not out, Alex Kegg 5-68. The Boughton Hall reply of 199-5 in 38 overs was then dominated by Trinidadian Daren Cruikshank’s 87 off 53 balls including 14 fours. He was helped by Jordan Clark, 33, who played for Lancashire in the CB40 against Gloucestershire at Old Trafford the previous evening.

Hyde, meanwhile, were obliged to their last pair for the second edgy draw in three weeks at home to Oxton, who are having a strong late run. Lee Dixon took his runs tally to 817 with a fine innings of 93 for Oxton, aided by Steve McGerrity, 47 and Gayan Fernando, 41, while Danny Cranmer claimed 5-60. Hyde batted steadily with Dave Fitzsimmons 54. Rob Woolley 38, James Duffy 35 and Pete Jones scoring 31, but they lacked a big innings and were content to hold out at 225-9, Sri Lankan all-rounder Fernando completing a good day with 5-80 and Andy Birley 4-63 to take the draw honours 17 – 12 and consolidate fourth spot.

How’s that for openers …..263!

Neston had a good day at the expense of bottom club Grappenhall for whom luck seems a rare commodity. Batting second, they scored 199, Adam Roylance 47, Gary Burns 40, their last wicket falling off the penultimate delivery of the day as Ashley Davis wound up with 4-41 and Dane Williams 3-18. Earlier, Neston had declared at 270-1, openers Andy Murphy and Jack Smith putting on a remarkable 263, Murphy running himself out for 137, while Jack Smith remained not out 120 and now has 880 runs.

Skipper Nick Anderson led by example when Didsbury won by 168 runs at Oulton Park, who are now in serious danger of the drop. Anderson top-scored with 101, alongside Matthew Marfani, 83 and Paul Sperring, 51 as Didsbury ran up a best-of- the-day tally of 303-9, home skipper Robin Taylor toiling hard for his 3-75. Taylor top-scored with 40 in Park’s reply, but apart from Louis Bentley, 36, there was a collapse to 135 all out, Jonnie Fawcett taking 3-8, Andy Windle 3-30 and Anderson himself 3-54 after removing the top three batsmen for three runs.

Toft’s youth policy - average age here 22 - continues to pay off and they controlled much of their match against Alderley Edge at Booth Park, declaring at 233-9, Adam Carolan 75, Pat Roberts and Shaun Mudalige both 35, Aaron Sayers 30, Alan Day 4-40. Alderley subsided to 98-8, but a fine innings from number 10 batsman Tom Forman (56), who clearly merits promotion and skipper Jason Whittaker, 31 not out, saw tem close on 186-9, the last seven balls being lost to rain.

Just for once it was not new England Under 15 legger Rob Jones (2-63) who took the eye for Young Toft, but another of the younger generation, left arm spinner Joe Lomas with an admirable 6-70 off 24 accurate overs. Toft finished 17 – 11 draw points to the good which takes them up to fifth place and keeps Alderley out of bottom two – for the time being.