TOFT could not carry the momentum from three successive wins the previous week into the next after suffering a heavy defeat at Neston last Saturday.

Their bowlers had no answer to Cheshire batsman Will Evans who scored a brilliant century – and shared in a second-wicket partnership worth 162 runs – to help the home team amass a huge total.

They closed on 298 all out after winning the toss with Evans contributing 181 of those during a 131-ball innings that included 28 fours and five maximums.

Dane Williams (59) supported him for the most part.

There was some cheer for Toft after the persistence of Tom Forster was rewarded with a six-wicket haul, while James Scott took 2-39.

Behind the stumps, keeper Dan Lord held on to two catches and stumped Luke Jones off Forster’s bowling.

The Knutsford outfit’s reply struggled for momentum after they were reduced by Matt Stewart (4-61) to 18-2.

James Drummond (32) attempted to repair some of the damage, a task taken on too by Ed Stubbs (39).

A rally from Ewan Williams (42 off 57 balls) at number eight increased the visitors’ tally before they succumbed for 183 – more than 100 runs short.

Ashley Davis (3-47) contributed to Neston’s victory, propelling them up to fourth in the Cheshire County League’s Premier Division.

Toft, who host Marple at Booth’s Park on Saturday, sit eighth.

The story was a happier one for Toft’s seconds after they won the return against Neston by five wickets.

Set a target of 230 to win, they made it there with plenty to spare thanks in large part to half-centuries from David Blackburn (83) and Scott Craig (65).

Adam Carolan contributed a quickfire 25 too.

They had restricted their guests to 229-7 after winning the toss, Pete Talbot (2-53) – who bowled danger man Toby Brown (78) – and Gohar Rashid (2-30) both claiming a brace of wickets each.

George Muirhead (1-25) and Daniel Gibbon (1-33) weighed in too.

Toft are fourth in the table ahead of a trip to their Marple counterparts this weekend.

Alderley Edge thirds were too good for the men from Booth’s Park in a Sunday Premier Division encounter, winning by 73 runs.

Najeeb Rawufi took 4-14 from an impressive 12-over spell for Toft as their hosts posted 170-8.

However the visitors were knocked over for just 97 in reply.

The Knutsford side try to recover at the first attempt when they host Marple on Sunday.