OULTON Park amassed their highest total of the campaign against Chester Boughton Hall but were still beaten by four wickets.

Opener Danny Leech contributed 154 runs, and combined with Tom Hyslop (66) to add 134 runs for the third wicket, as the men from Little Budworth put 328-8 on the board.

The Cheshire captain was at his sparkling best, scoring 22 fours and five maximums, and was dismissed only after a fourth-wicket partnership worth 79 with Matt Jamieson (55no). However the visitors completed a stunning chase with five balls to spare, inspired by Jamie Crawley (124) and two other batsmen – Warren Goodwin (64) and Lee Dixon (60) – who passed 50.

Martyn East (3-93) was the most incisive of an attack that found the going tough.

Patrick Roberts’ side have now lost six successive matches in the ECB Premier Division, and sit seventh in the table.

Davenham could not stop Bowdon from boosting their promotion hopes when they fell to a 72-run defeat in a Division One encounter at Butcher’s Stile.

Captain Danny Hancock, with 5-35, and fellow spinner Stephen Bliss (3-61) were effective in restricting the visitors to 209 all out.

However the home team could not recover from a collapse early in their innings, during which four wickets fell for 24 runs, that saw momentum disappear.

Chris Hornby (23) and Hancock (23no) were defiant in the closing stages before Jack Tipton (4-50) and Chris Ashling (2-12) finished the job.

Northwich skipper James Plant told the Guardian last month that he rated Alvanley as the strongest opponents his side has faced.

He will be happy then that the men from Moss Farm enjoyed the better of a draw in their latest Division Two meeting.

Tharusha Fernando (86) posted his best score since arriving from Sri Lanka as the hosts posted 204-6 after winning the toss.

They were favourites to prevail when Tharusha (3-31) and Andrew Dufty (2-61) had the visitors in trouble at 78-6 before Sam Baxter (66) inspired a rearguard action continued by tail-ender Lee Ainsworth (32no).

Jordan McDonough finished with figures of 3-46.

Weaverham remain in the relegation zone following a heavy eight-wicket reverse at promotion-chasing Lindow.

They were run over for 87, a total that might have been even lower had Zulqarnain Aslam (36) not dug in after arriving at the crease with them deep in trouble at 39-7.

Tim Young (5-29) enjoyed support from Alex Matthews (3-17) and Sultan Raja (2-23) for the hosts.

Lindow cruised to their target inside 18 overs, with Stuart Hayes (2-29) claiming both wickets to fall.

Results

Vivio Cheshire County League

Week 13

Saturday, July 14

ECB Premier Division: Alderley Edge 228-8 Timperley 265-9; Bramhall 210-4 Toft 209; Cheadle 98 Nantwich 99-5; Didsbury 189 Grappenhall 190-3; Marple 114 Neston 115-5; Oulton Park 328-8 Chester Boughton Hall 329-6

Division One: Barrow 157-4 Stockport 156; Davenham 137 Bowdon 209; Hyde 161-2 Sale 159; Macclesfield 103-3 Oxton 101; Upton 152-9 Bollington 217-7; Urmston 220-9 Widnes 224-4

Division Two: Christleton 176 Runcorn 242; Hale Barns 204 Warrington 204; Lindow 88-2 Weaverham 87; Mobberley 182 Brooklands 243; Northwich 204-6 Alvanley 184-9; Tattenhall 128 Romiley 129-4