TWO players scored a century during a partnership worth 223 runs as Northwich made a stylish start to the defence of their Cheshire Shield title.

Sri Lankan Chandrika Wathukarage (112 off 108 balls) and captain Mark Walker (115no off 101 balls) shared in a third-wicket partnership to help their team run up 285-3 against lower-ranked Stockport Trinity at Moss Farm.

The hosts dismissed their guests for 156 after tea to progress to the first round proper.

Glinoj Cherian (4-42), Matthew Dufty (3-19) and Andrew Dufty (2-28) contributed with the ball for a side still waiting to record a first victory of the campaign in the Cheshire County League’s third tier.

“It will do us the world of good,” said Walker.

“Once we knew we had some sort of total within our grasp, we let loose a bit.

“We still had to finish the job though, which the lads did pretty efficiently.”

Hawk Green, runners-up to Northwich in the 2016 edition, beat Hale Barns by five wickets in the other preliminary round match played on Sunday.

Results

Cheshire Shield

Preliminary round

Sunday, May 21

Hale Barns 154 Hawk Green 158-5; Northwich 285-3 Stockport Trinity 15