BARNTON recovered from last week’s heavy defeat at Kingsley to enjoy the better of a draw with neighbours Winnington Park.

Adam Garrod (103no) was a star turn for the hosts, who posted 205-4 after being asked to bat, with 15 boundaries in an unbeaten century.

Mike Dickenson (33) and later Pat Flanagan (46no) provided support.

In Park’s attack, Jonny Wales was again the standout as he took 2-43 from 14 overs.

Iain Connor added 1-48, but the rest were expensive.

Skipper Alec Butcher was the mainstay of his side’s reply, batting from the start to finish unbeaten on 84 – a knock that included 11 fours and a six.

He added 73 runs for the second wicket with Sam Barnes (27), and a further 76 with Wales (37 off 39 balls) as Winnington closed well short on 157-4.

Neil Langham (1-20 off 11 overs) was the pick of Barnton’s bowlers.

“We didn’t quite hit our stride until the opportunity to win had passed,” reflected Butcher.

“However our batting display is a boost to confidence, and hopefully banishes the demons of some sub-par innings in recent weeks.”

Kingsley fell agonisingly short in a chase at Stockport Trinity, where they lost by three runs in the final over.

Set a target of 169, Ben Stoddart (63) and Travis Martin (41no) took the Crofters close before their innings ended after a late flurry of wickets.

Stoddart (3-34) and Martin (2-50) starred with the ball too, supported by Andrew Ainsworth (2-20) and Steve Kitchen (2-49) as the hosts totalled 168.

Oakmere have suffered back-to-back losses for the first time since the season’s opening seven days.

Harrison Jones (82) and captain Paul Yearsley (54) did the majority of the scoring as they posted 210 at Bunbury, Alex Livingstone (9-89) accounting for all but one of those.

But Freddie Bulow (101no) then hit a ton in the hosts’ successful reply at 213-6, with Matt Howard and Craig Phelan claiming two wickets each.

Winsford had no answer to Paul Butterworth’s bowling in a 109-run defeat at Alderley Park in Division Three.

He took 9-12, skittling the visitors for 57 as they chased 167 to win.

Craig Webb scored 41 of those.

Earlier, captain Mark Dean (3-44) had been the pick of Winsford’s attack.