REIGNING champions Nantwich defeated current leaders Oxton by four wickets in the ECB Premier League on Saturday.

The Dabbers, now sixth, are still 40 points adrift of top spot Oxton lost despite posting 250, their highest tally of the summer.

Their top batsmen was former Nantwich star Lou Vincent, 89.

Dabbers’ skipper Andy Newton just missed a hat-trick in a 3 for 32 return.

Louis Bentley played his best innings of the season in a reply of 254 for 6 with eight overs to spare.

The talented Lancashire left-hander closed on 113 not out aided by number eight Jimmy Warrington’s rapid unbeaten 51.

* CHESHIRE host Berkshire at Nantwich’s Whitehouse Lane ground from Sunday to Tuesday. Dabbers’ wicketkeeper and opening bat Jonny Kettle is in the team.

* WISTASTON were unable to stretch their lead at the top of the Cheshire Cricket Alliance Division One after holding on for a draw against title rivals Trinity.

The league leaders still hold enjoy comfortable cushion at the top of the standings and will likely be pleased with keeping the second-place team at arms length after they shot to a score of 226 for 6 as Keith Thornhill took 4 for 83. In reply, Wistaston made a good go of the chase but ultimately had to hold on for the draw, with D Blunbdred making 44, J Allwood, 38, and S Barnes 33 not out as they closed on 194 for 4.

Haslington kept the pace with third-placed Sandbach with an emphatic nine-wicket win against visitors Old Parkonians.

They bowled the guests out for 83 thanks to A Phipps' 4 for 10, before reaching the target for the loss of only one wicket after D France's unbeaten 32. Sandbach managed to cut the gap between themselves and second-placed Trinity with a 108-run win against visiting Appleton.

The hosts scored 202 for 2 thanks to wonderful knocks from R Kesteven, 78, and P Hampson, 69 not out.

In Division Two, Audlem visited Styal and won by nine wickets.

The home side were skittled out for 133 as N Humphries took 6 for 44, before Audlem replied with a score of 137 for 1 with Q Matthews making 54 not out and K Toraman 52 not out.

Haslington's seconds grabbed a vital win in their relegation battle in Division Three, beating hosts Rostherne by 31 runs.

Haslington scored 160 thanks to J Taylor's 51, before reducing their opponents order for 129.

Sandbach's seconds drew their match despite making an excellent total of 207 for 8, S Stonely making 61 and J Taylor 52, but could not remove their opponents, who held on for 116 for 8.

Wistaston's second string lost their match at Eastham by five wickets, scoring only 109 after S Collins, 32, and B Clarke, 36, top scored.

They then failed to make the impact they needed with the ball, with the hosts reaching 110 for 5.