WEAVERHAM’S worrying run of results continued on Saturday when they suffered a fourth league defeat from the past five matches.

The latest reverse, by five-wickets at home to in-form Oulton Park, leaves the Russets eighth in the Division One table.

They had no answer to a fine performance in the field by the men from Little Budworth, including smart catches from Martyn East – to dismiss Wilden Cornwall – and Nick James.

Tom Hyslop’s superb run-out removed danger-man Russell Walker (25) as Weaverham were knocked over for 122.

Andrew Hards (5-55) and Guy Emmett (3-59) did their bit with the ball too.

East (57 off 46 balls) led Oulton’s reply, hitting five fours and four sixes, before Iroshan de Silva (20) and captain Pat Roberts (28no) finished the job.

Kevin Waterhouse (3-38) and Cornwall (1-38) bowled well, but the Rusetts did not have enough runs to defend.

Their opponents rise to third in the standings as a reward for their fifth win.

Davenham’s struggles continued in a 98-run reverse away to Oxton.

The home team posted 210-8, with Danny Hancock (4-77) and Sam Hunt (3-28) taking the bulk of wickets to fall.

But a familiar tale of woe followed after tea when, after reaching 80-1, the visitors were sent back for 118.

Hunt (43) and skipper Mark Greaves (29) were the only ones to make a start.

Back-markers Middlewich lost a thriller by two runs at Christleton, where Mitch Renwick became the first batsman in the league to pass 500 runs for the season in the hosts’ 217-9.

Middlewich’s last-wicket pair Stuart Price (48) and Pat Hurley (31) put on 88 runs before the latter was out with the score on 215.

Star turn Sam Shepherd (42no) struck the winning run off the game’s final ball to help Northwich secure a one-wicket win at home to Stockport.

Set a target of 232 to win, a half-century stand between captain Mark Walker (29) and James Plant (48) was followed by another between Shepherd and Matthew Dufty (48) on an excellent Moss Farm track.

Earlier, Shepherd’s stunning seven-wicket haul included a hat-trick.

He claimed the scalps of Roscoe Price-Moor (80) and Tom Facer (44) after they had shared in a third-wicket partnership worth 126 runs in the visitors’ 231-9.

Results

Vivio Cheshire County League

Division One, Saturday: Christleton 217-9 dec Middlewich 215; Didsbury 234-4 Cheadle Hulme 237-7; Oxton 210-8 Davenham 118; Timperley 207 Tattenhall 119-7; Urmston 299-3 Sale 72; Weaverham 122 Oulton Park 125-6.

Division Two: Bredbury 152 Upton 156-3; Brooklands 203-7 Warrington 206-7; Congleton 156 Alvanley 156; Irby 119 Mobberley 123-6; Northwich 232-9 Stockport 231-9; Widnes 812 Bollington 284-7.