Nantwich CC with a record breaking title win!

NANTWICH duly clinched their second successive ECB Premier League title on the final day of the season – and they have done it with a record points haul, 40 more than in 2010.

The Dabbers beat Toft by six wickets at Whitehouse Lane after dismissing their visitors for 124, Aaron Sayers 59, Alex Matthews 4-9. Nantwich replied with 126-4, Jonny Kettle taking his tally to 1,070 runs by top-scoring with 36, while teenager Sam Hunt hit 31.

Nantwich have won 13 of their 22 games and in totalling 422 points, topped the previous best Premiership tally of 418 set up by Bowdon in 2000.

Chester Boughton Hall clinched a highly creditable second place, equalling Nantwich’s 13 victories, with a four wickets win in a high-scoring game at Neston, who declared at 234-9, Luke Pavlinovitch 80, David Hurst 34, Daron Cruikshank 3-57. Chester replied with 235-6, opener Warren Goodwin with 110 topping 1,000 runs for the third successive season, the first time this has been done in premiership cricket. He was aided by Lancashire’s Jordan Clark, 65. Paul Stimson’s spin earned him 3-49 as the Parkgate side finished a disappointing ninth in the table. Skipper Jim Gillson was making a farewell appearance for CBH before emigrating with his family to New Zealand in October. He will be missed.

Third-placed Hyde had their visit to relegated Oulton Park abandoned due to rain. Hyde scored 179-2 in the 28 overs possible, top scorers being Scott Kirwin 76 and Mark Makin 63 not out while skipper James Duffy’s unbeaten 31 took him over the 1,000 runs mark. Oulton Park did not bat.

Despite losing at Grappenhall, Oxton finish fourth at the same time confirming their hosts’ relegation back to Division One after 12 months. Oxton were dismissed for 167, Gayan Fernando 44, Mark Rowlands 33, Steve Titchard 4-39, Guy Emmett 3-31. With 59 from Tony Hurdley and a rousing 41 not out by Liam Parkinson, Grappenhall went on to win by three wickets, Mark Rowlands taking 5-46.

Didsbury were hit by heavy showers and only 29.1 overs’ play was possible in their mid-table home match against Urmston. Didsbury had reached 107-4, Aussie batsman Tim Gregory signing off with an unbeaten 58 and Paul Sperring 34, when the ground became waterlogged.

Alderley Edge beat Macclesfield by eight runs in a tight finish to wind up in an uneasy 10th place. It was a bowlers’ match, Alderley being dismissed for 115, Adam Worrall 56, Barney Cutbill 6-38, Rob Porter 3-11, In reply, Macclesfield fell just short at 107, Khalid Sawas 55, Mark Warnes 5-21, Jason Whittaker 3-55.

NATIONAL WINNERS

THE eight County League clubs who played in the first round of the National championship back in May will be interested to learn that Shrewsbury won the final on the Derbyshire county ground on Saturday by three wickets with two balls to spare. Scores: Cambridge Granta 220-8; Shrewsbury 224-7 (Shropshire captain Ed. Foster 98no).