Ollie Thompson with maiden century

NANTWICH need just two points from the final game at home to Toft next Saturday to ensure their second successive ECB Premier League title.

They would have clinched the honour at Alderley Edge had not their hosts’ last pair Jon Usher and Mark Warnes not held out to force a draw and reduce Nantwich’s points haul from 25 to 15 in a largely one-sided game.

Nantwich declared on 235-7, Sam Hunt 41, Ray Doyle 40, Glen Batticciotto 38 and Alderley replied with 155-9, Adam Wildigg 40, Mark Currie 32. Nantwich paceman Jimmy Warrington took his tally for the season to 67 with another handsome haul of 6-48 – but even he couldn’t capture that last, elusive wicket.
Second-placed Chester Boughton Hall were also foiled by a last pair stand at home against Toft after amassing 292-3 in 52 overs, teenager Ollie Thompson scoring a maiden century (100), aided by Ollie Law 68, Jordan Clark 55 not out and Warren Goodwin 47. Toft batted well to close on 263-9, Ed Stubbs 75, Adam Carolan 45, tail-enders Nigel Muirhead and John Stanley holding out for the last eight overs to deny Chester a sorely-needed victory and eight extra points. Daron Cruikshank took 3-49.

Hyde could pip Chester for the runners-up spot with a maximum points haul in their final outing at Oulton Park after beating Neston by five wickets at Werneth Low. Neston, who have won only two out of 10 games since the season’s half-way stage, were bowled out for 184, Aussie Luke Pavlinovitch hitting five sixes and six fours in a rapid 70, while Dan Cranmer took 3-48. To be Cheshire skipper in 2012, James Duffy crashed a fine 77 off 42 balls in Hyde’s reply of 184-5, hitting seven sixes and seven fours anb innings which greatly impressed umpire Geoff Wellsteed. “There’s none better that James when he’s in the mood”, he says.

Fourth spot for Oxton?
Oxton virtually clinched fourth spot with an impressive nine wickets home win over Didsbury, who opted to bat and were bowled out for 118, teenage off-spinner Ross Dixon enjoying a League career-best 6-30 and Sri Lankan paceman Gayan Fernando 3-45. Mark Rowland hit 57 and Steve McGenity 44 not out as Oxton knocked off the runs in double quick time.

Macclesfield beat Grappenhall and in doing so virtually sealed their visitors’ relegation fate, although they are not yet mathematically down. Promoted second teamer Mark Sambell top-scored with 77 in Grappenhall’s declared tally of 224-8, Ian Tate 5-67. A fine innings of 106 not out by Khalid Sawas then carried Macclesfield to victory with four wickets intact, Steve Titchard 3-59.

Premiership champions in 2005-06-07-09, Oulton Park lost by eight wickets at Urmston and are relegated. They were all out for 62, Unicorns and Cheshire left arm paceman Adam Syddall claiming 6-34 off 16 overs to top 50 wickets for the season, he and skipper Sumit Panda, 4-23, bowling unchanged. Chris Watson top-scored with 31 in Urmston’s reply of 63-2 in 18 overs, the match finishing at 3.20 p.m.