NORTHWICH inflicted further woe on neighbours Weaverham when they prevailed by 23 runs in a derby encounter at Moss Farm.

It propelled James Plant’s men into the Division Two table’s top-half while the Russets remain in the drop zone.

The visitors had their hosts under pressure at 68-5 before Lee Evans (45) and James Gittings (36) boosted the total by 60 runs during their time together.

Northwich’s innings closed on 151 all out, with Kevin Douglas (6-46) the outstanding bowler.

He now has 37 wickets for the campaign.

Rob Harrison (29) and Jake Lightfoot (37) steadied Weaverham’s reply after they fell quickly to 23-3, but pressure from spin duo Andrew Dufty (4-16) and Tharusha Fernando (3-45) proved too much as they succumbed later for 128.

Davenham fell to a seven-wicket defeat at Urmston in Division One, although defeats for rivals below them in the relegation zone meant it was not damaging.

The away side posted 150-9, with Adam Garrod (41) and Ben Gough (33) putting on 66 runs for the fifth wicket after coming together at 45-4.

Wicket-keeper Mike Sambell (24no) contributed too.

Urmston eased to their target in the 33rd over after Lewis Jackson (49no) and Chris Turner (51) added 80 together for the third wicket.

Ryan Blackie took 2-32 for Davenham, who are 16 points clear of second-bottom Stockport with five matches left.

In the Premier Division, Oulton Park played out a rain-interrupted draw with Bramhall at Pinfold Lane.

The visitors put 257-9 on the board, with a century from Liam Banthorpe (113) the highlight, and in-form Tom Hyslop (4-57) was again the most productive of the Little Budworth outfit’s bowlers.

Danny Leech (2-42) picked up the wicket of the visitors’ top-scorer.

Muhammad Shahbaz (95no) and Callum Begg (40no) then shared in an unbroken partnership worth 88 runs at Oulton Park reached 179-2 off 40 overs in their reply.

The former also added 84 in tandem with Leech (31) earlier in the innings.

Results

Vivio Cheshire County League

Week 17

Saturday, August 11

ECB Premier Division: Alderley Edge 216-9 Marple 213-09; Cheadle 102 Toft 106-2; Didsbury 94 Neston 97-8; Nantwich 247-5 Grappenhall 58; Oulton Park 179-2 Bramhall 257-9; Timperley 173 Chester Boughton Hall 139-9

Division One: Barrow 141 Bowdon 244-6 dec; Macclesfield 118-3 Sale 259-8; Oxton 212-3 dec Stockport 102; Upton 250-8 Hyde 251-9; Urmston 153-3 Davenham 150-9; Widnes 111-1 Bollington 110

Division Two: Alvanley 54 Brooklands 226; Christleton 271-8 dec Tattenhall 127; Hale Barns 223-7 Lindow 227-7 dec; Mobberley 100 Romiley 214-8; Northwich 151 Weaverham 128; Runcorn 199 Warrington 200-7