TOFT held their nerve to claim the Cheshire County League’s T20 title after beating Chester Boughton Hall in the final.

Defending 147, they were run close by the Premier Division leaders who plundered 14 runs from the final over only to fall short at 143-7.

The Knutsford outfit had their opponents in trouble at 55-4 after Tom Forster (2-36) and Andrew Jackson (2-24) broke through before Cheshire captain Rick Moore (35) and Jamie Crawley (31) put on 66 runs for the fifth wicket.

James Scott (3-14) ended that partnership, having the latter caught by James Hodgson, before Jackson accounted for Moore in the following over.

The men from Booth’s Park recovered from losing Rob Sehmi early in their innings when Forster (47) and Henry Hughes added 57 runs for the second wicket.

James Drummond (30 off 15 balls) was in a hurry later before Warren Goodwin (4-15) dismissed Ed Stubbs and Will Dunkerley from successive balls during the penultimate over.

Toft had started finals day at Hyde with a similarly slender five-run victory against holders Nantwich.

Forster (33) and Hughes (43) were again productive together, this time putting on 63 runs while together at the crease, before Scott (30) contributed later.

They closed on 137.

The Dabbers lost wickets at regular intervals, with Hodgson (2-21), Jackson (2-26) and Forster (2-33) playing a part, when they reached 132-8 in reply.

Oliver Griffiths (37no off 22 balls) led their charge, but a brilliant last over from Forster restricted him to two runs.

Results

Vivio Cheshire County League

T20 Finals Day

Sunday, July 14

Semi-finals: Toft 137 Nantwich 132-8; Hyde 188-5 Chester Boughton Hall 234-6

Final: Toft 147 Chester Boughton Hall 143-7