BEN Chaloner hit a fine unbeaten century during a cameo for Winnington Park on Saturday, ensuring his side remains unbeaten in Division Two this season.

He raced to 103 from just 70 balls at the Rec, striking 13 fours and a pair of sixes during his first appearance of the campaign for the Northwich outfit.

His contribution was a timely one; the hosts had slipped to 62-4 after losing the toss to Chelford on a cold, wet and windy afternoon.

Chaloner’s maiden ton for the first team coincided with a fourth-wicket partnership worth 141 runs with James Hendry (37no) as Winnington declared two overs early at 208-4.

Earlier, opener Greg McKeown had hit 29.

Chelford decided to bat for a share of the spoils after three of their top order were dismissed before they had reached double figures.

Iain Connor (2-39) removed both openers in his first three overs, but it was 16-year-old Sam Barnes who shone with the ball as he took 4-42 from his 14 overs.

New recruit Dave Walters also chipped in, the former Toft pace-man taking 1-51 in his first game of the season.

Chelford closed on 168-7, collecting eight points.

Park’s haul was twice that, leaving them second in the standings after three weeks.

“It was a great effort by the lads in very difficult conditions,” said skipper Alec Butcher.

“A superb individual performance by Ben meant we were always in the driving seat, gaining a good points total after many other matches in the division were rained off.”

There was no play at all in matches involving Barnton, Kingsley and Oakmere.

They had been scheduled to host Ashley, Woodford and Stockport Trinity respectively.

Winsford suffered a third successive defeat in Division Three, this time by a huge 112-run margin at home to Langley.

The visitors, after being invited to bat first at Knights Grange, rattled up 222-4 thanks in large part to a third-wicket stand between Dave Letven (79) and Ben Hobbs (89no).

Captain Mark Dean (2-41) was the pick of Winsford’s bowlers, with Ben Crellin and Kris Flynn claiming a wicket each.

They collapsed to 110 all out in reply, with only youngster Crellin (31 off 23 balls) mustering more than 20 runs while at the crease.

Matt Betteridge (4-38) and Patrick Turne (4-41) did the damage.

Results

TACS Partnership Cheshire League 
Division Two, Saturday: Lymm 85-3 Haslington 84; Winnington 204-4 dec; Chelford 168-7. All other matches abandoned.

Division Three: CH Ladybridge 164 Wirral 74; Over Peover 161-7 Alderley Park 169-6 dec; Port Sunlight 123-8 dec Cholmondeley 125-2; Sandbach 63 Aston 127-9 dec; Wilmslow 200 Wilmslow Wayfarers 201- 7; Winsford 110 Langley 222-4 dec.