TOFT struggled to earn a draw at home to Chester Boughton Hall in their Cheshire County League Premiership game on the third Saturday of the season, writes Mike Talbot-Butler.

CBH ran up 250-8 with 86 from Noah Vickery, Toft limping to 172-9 in reply, with Jimmy O'Sullivan 50 and Ewan Williams 50 not out.

Neston go top after their third win in a row, an 85-run defeat of Nantwich, with paceman Ash Davies taking 7-21.

Grappenhall lost at home by 76 runs to 2022 champions Didsbury, who ran up 261 with Rob Sehmi contributing 114. Grappers replied with 205, with Ben Bodha 51 not out and Steve Green taking a best of the day 8-71.

Widnes ran up 301-7 in a 94-run home defeat of Cheadle, with Rohan Kuthre 99.

Ben Kohler-Casmore hit a best of the day 126 in Alderley Edge’s defeat of Hyde.

Oxton beat Brooklands by nine runs in a tight game at Wirral.

In Division One, Sale went top after a five wickets home win over Bramhall after holding their visitors to 176-6, with Greg Dixon 55. Sale replied with 179-5.

Oulton Park lost by 78 runs at Urmston, who scored 226-8, with Park’s reply being a disappointing 148.

Macclesfield hit 200-9 at Bowdon, with Ian Gibson 101 and their hosts replying with 142-9, which included Ross Zelem 58.

Congleton beat Alvanley by 93 runs after totalling 159-5, bowling their hosts out for 66, with M Kashif 6-8. Six batsmen contributed just three runs.

Romiley won by nine wickets at Lindow, who were restricted to 166, with Finn Garaghan 95, before responding with 168-1, Isaac Willett 112.

Timperley failed to dislodge Stockport Georgians’ last pair after running up 233, with Caedence Kueppa 72, Simon Normanton 5-53. Georgians held out for 158-9.

Mobberley top Division Two after crushing Ashton on Mersey by 199 runs, with Ibra Latif 83 and Abdul Aquel 53 in a total of 300-7. Ashton were all out for 101.

Davenham produced better form with an eight-wicket win at Stockport, who were dismissed for 122 with Rob Taylor 5-63. They responded with 123-2, Mike Rudd 50 not out.

Ben Istead took 4-5 when NE Cheshire were dismisseed for 86 by Haslington.

Port Sunlight were all out for 134 chasing Hale Barns’ 152.

Heaton Mersey are early leaders of the third division after bowling Warrington out for 190 to win by five wickets.

Oakmere won by three wickets after bowling Kingsley out for 129, George Waring 76, Nick Gerrard 5-39. Oakmere replied with 131-7, Slade Metrovic 51.

Tattenhall totalled 171 going out to dismiss Maritime for 80.

Upton replied with 159-4 at home to Barrow, Ryan Maclean hitting 112 for the losers.

Winnington Park mustered only 91 at home to Ashley, who replied with 92-4.

Northwich were dismissed for 85 at home to Hawk Green, who had earlier posted 121.

Saturday's fixtures, all noon start:

ECB Premier Division: Cheadle v Grappenhall; Chester BH v Widnes; Didsbury v Brooklands; Hyde v Toft; Neston v Alderley Edge; Oxton v Nantwich.

Division One: Alvanley v Bowdon; Bramhall v Urmston; Macclesfield v Stockport Georgians; Oulton Park v Congleton; Romiley v Sale; Timperley v Lindow.

Division Two: Ashton on Mersey v Stockport; Cheadle Hulme v Haslington; Christleton v Marple; Davenham v Bollington; Hale Barns v Mobberley; NE Cheshire v Port Sunlight.

Division Three: Ashley v Heaton Mersey; Barrow v Winnington Park; Hawk Green v Tattenhall; Maritime v Upton; Oakmere v Northwich; Warrington v Kingsley.