DAVENHAM set aside their league struggles to score a convincing 50-run victory away to Congleton in their Joseph Holt Brewery T20 group-stage opener on Thursday.

Tim Niemand (70no) and Sam Hunt (66no) took the team from Butcher’s Stile, who had won the toss, to 193-1 after captain Mark Greaves (37) had earlier been run out.

Congleton reached 143-8 in reply, with Ryan Blackie, Hunt and Niemand taking two wickets each.

In the same section, Middlewich lost by 89 runs at Premier Division outfit Nantwich.

The hosts racked up 193-4, with Leandro Du Toit (2-33) claiming the wicket of top scorer Abhishek Raut (76 off 52 balls) after he had put on 116 for the first wicket with Ryan Brown (60).

Middlewich finished short on 104-9.

In Group Seven, Northwich went down by 46 runs at Oulton Park.

Andrew Dufty, Sam Shepherd and Sam Stoneley bagged a brace apiece as the men from Little Budworth succumbed for 136, a tally boosted by a 61-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Daniel Leech (37) and Mark Latham (31).

Northwich were dismissed for 92 in reply, the result of a collective effort from Oulton bowlers Guy Emmett (2-19), Leech (2-14) and Latham (2-4).

Weaverham lost by two wickets at Grappenhall, who successfully chased 150 to win.

Wilden Cornwall (70) contributed a half-century to the Russets’ 149-5, but Richard Green (53) and Warwick Abraham (52) led the hosts to victory in the final over.

Results

Joseph Holt Brewery T20

Group Seven, Thursday: Grappenhall 152-8 Weaverham 149-5; Oulton Park 138 Northwich 92.

Group Eight: Congleton 143-8 Davenham 193-1; Nantwich 193-4 Middlewich 104-9.