DAVENHAM and Marple share top spot in Cheshire County Cricket League Division Two although both were foiled by rain, writes Mike Talbot-Butler.

Only 20 minutes’ play was possible in Davenham’s visit to NE Cheshire, while Marple struck 200-7 at home to Port Sunlight, Chris Ramsay 62, before rain.

Maritime lead Division Three by 34 points despite losing at home to relegation-threatened Barrow by nine runs.

Second-placed Oakmere trounced Winnington Park by 103 runs and stay second.

Oakmere scored 167, with James Hodkinson 45, and Winnington replied with 64 all out, Hodkinson 4-14.

Kingsley scored a good win at home to Tattenhall, dismissing their guests for 91, with Joel Logan 6-24, and replying with 94-4, Ben Stoddart 38.

Northwich fell to bottom spot after their match against Heaton Mersey at Moss Farm was rained off.

With three September games left to play, Alderley Edge have emerged as favourites to win the Cheshire County Cricket League’s Premier Division title for the first time.

Alderley had replied with 27-1 after routing Brooklands for 119 on Saturday when rain chased the players off.

Meanwhile, reigning champions and leaders for most of the summer, Didsbury, rattled up 252-4 at Hyde, with Rob Sehmi hitting 113 and Nick Anderson 103 not out from 46 balls, only for rain to descend at tea.

Oulton Park were outplayed by Lindow at Little Budworth, replying with 116 (Andy Metcalf 41) to Lindow’s 184, Max Butler 4-39.

Chester Boughton Hall lie third after a four-wicket win against Cheadle while fourth-placed Nantwich replied with 127-3 to Toft’s modest 126.

Oxton beat Widnes by three wickets, while Grappenhall took full points as they won by four wickets at Neston thanks to Tom McCrury’s 91 not out.

Bowdon and Timperley share the First Division leadership after notable victories - Bowdon by two wickets at home to Urmston, thanks to 50 from Jack Tipton and Zander Selby’s 5-21.

Timperley beat Romiley by 108 runs after totalling 202, with Jamie Matthews 66, then routing their guests for 94, Chris Page 5-26.

Alvanley lost at home to third-placed Sale by two wickets after posting 176-9, with Ty Lawrence 6-31. Sale replied with 177-8, Dan Newton 72.

Results: ECB Premier League: Alderley Edge 27-1 drew with Brooklands 119; Chester 110-6 beat Cheadle 109 (Jack Williams 4-28); Hyde did not bat v Didsbury 252-4 (Rob Sehmi 113, Nick Anderson 103no) match abandoned; Nantwich 127-3 (Luke Robinson 46) beat Toft 126 (Phil Stockton 4-32); Neston 130 (Tom McCrury 4-21) lost to Grappenhall 131-6 (Tom McCrury 91 not out); Oxton 183-7 (Johan Luthra 90) beat Widnes 182-7 by 3 wickets.

Top three: 1 Alderley Edge 324pts; 2 Didsbury 303; 3 Chester 284.

Division One: Alvanley 176-9 (Tyrone Lawrence 6-31) lost to Sale 177-8 (Dan Newton 72); Bowdon 122-8 (Jack Tipton 50) beat Urmston 121 (Ryan O’Brien 67, Zander Selby 5-21); Congleton 70 (Simon Normanton 4-16) lost to Stockport Georgians 71-3; Macclesfield 181-8 (Alex Thompson 59) drew with Bramhall 33-2; Oulton Park 116 (Andrew Metcalf 41) lost to Lindow 184 (Mark Law 53 Max Butler 4-39) Timperley 202 (Jamie Matthews 66, James Bashford 4-60) beat Romiley 94 (Chris Page 4-25).

Top three: 1= Bowdon and Timperley 333pts; 3 Sale 313.

Division Two: Cheadle Hulme 1-0 v Stockport abandoned; Christleton v Mobberley result not to hand; Hale Barns 109 (James Marshall 4-33) lost to Ashton on Mersey 112-2 (Henry Murray 51); Haslington did not bat v Bollington 48-7 (Jack Taylor 6-25) abandoned; Marple 200-7 (C. Ramsay 62, M. Hodgson 5-30) drew with Port Sunlight 45-1; NE Cheshire 21-1 v Davenham abandoned.

Top three: 1= Davenham and Marple 323pts; 3 Haslington 311.

Division Three: Hawk Green v Ashley 97-5 abandoned; Kingsley 94-4 (Ben Stoddart 38) beat Tattenhall 91 (Joel Logan 6-24, Ben Stoddart 4-75; Maritime 150 lost to Barrow 159-6; Northwich v Heaton Mersey cancelled; Oakmere 167 (James Hodkinson 45, S. Jackson 4-14) beat Winnington Park 64 (James Hodkinson 4-14); Warrington v Upton 9-0 abandoned.

Top three: 1 Maritime 316pts; 2 Oakmere 282; 3 Hawk Green 273.

Bottom two: 11 Barrow 205; 12 Northwich 203.

Saturday’s fixtures, 11.30am, include: Premier League: Grappenhall v Oxton; Toft v Alderley Edge; Widnes v Nantwich.

Division One: Bramhall v Alvanley; Sale v Oulton Park.

Division Two: Davenham v Cheadle Hulme; Mobberley v Marple; Stockport v Christleton.

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