NORTHWICH kept alive their hopes of progressing in the Joseph Holt Brewery T20 after they beat Weaverham by seven wickets.

It is their second victory this week over the Russets, who are now eliminated, after a success at Wallerscote Road in a Cheshire County League fixture last Saturday.

Mark Walker (55no off 60 balls) guided the visitors to their target after batting through, although a late cameo from Lee Evans (25no off 15 balls) – during which he struck two huge maximums – soothed concern they were running out of time.

He found the leg-side boundary to take the men from Moss Farm to 127-3 with five balls to spare.

However it was their acceleration during the previous over, which yielded 14 runs, that made the difference.

Walker had earlier put on 57 runs for the third wicket with James Gittings (17).

Weaverham were diligent in the field, with Ryan Simm (0-21) the pick of their bowlers.

They had earlier scored 126-8 after winning the toss, with a half-century by Salman Hanif (56 off 39 balls) a highlight.

Simm (23 off 13 balls) supported him briefly, hitting two sixes during Tharusha Fernando’s opening over that saw the Russets add 21 runs to their total.

Like in Northwich’s innings, the 19th over was eventful too.

Salman reached a half-century, then top-edged a six that saw the ball buried – and lost – in a nearby hedge.

Skipper Jake Lightfoot threw on a replacement to his counterpart James Plant, who promptly had the batsman caught behind by wicket-keeper Nicholas Verma from the next delivery.

Andrew Dufty (3-13) saw off Hayden Bell and Jake Spencer-Kellett while bringing the innings to a close, while Plant (1-32), Jordan McDonough (1-27), Gittings (1-28) and Tharusha (1-21) claimed a wicket each.

A defeat for Davenham, by 38 runs, at Alvanley in the other Group Three encounter means three teams enter the final round of matches in a fortnight in with a chance of making it through.

Results

Joseph Holt Brewery T20

Thursday, May 31

Group Three

Alvanley 170-6 Davenham 132

Weaverham 126-8 Northwich 127-3

Fixtures (from 6.15pm)

Thursday, June 14

Davenham v Weaverham

Northwich v Alvanley