OULTON Park’s last-wicket pair resisted pressure from Widnes to earn their side a draw during a disrupted Premier Division encounter.

Andrew Dufty (22no) and Andy Hards defied their opponents to still be at the crease with the score on 97-9 off 31 overs after heavy rainfall had delayed the start.

Tom Hyslop (20) and Kiwi Nick Ward (24) had added 43 runs for the second wicket at the top of the order but the end of their partnership promoted five wickets to fall for just seven runs.

Majid Majeed (4-15 off nine overs) and Matt Parkinson (2-23), playing against his former club, wrestled back control for the home team.

Widnes had put 181-4 on the scoreboard after they lost the toss and Muhammad Shahbaz (38no) - who scored heavily for Oulton Park last season – contributed 71 in tandem with Majeed (47 off 33 balls).

That followed a first-wicket stand of 75 between captain Chris Kirby (35) and Sean Moore (36), while Dufty (3-33 off eight overs) was easily the pick of the visitors’ bowlers.

There was no change of fortune for Northwich after they lost a meeting with Alvanley in Division Two by 77 runs.

The visitors to Moss Farm declared at 176-7 after batting for 28 overs with Simon Gee (84 off 60 balls) their outstanding individual performer.

He rescued the visitors from a precarious position at 51-4, improving their tally by 59 runs with skipper Chris Charles (22no), after Jordan McDonough (2-20) and James Gittings (1-44) had broken through.

Glinoj Cherian (1-38), Sumit Dhadawe (1-39) and newcomer Zenol Jayasana (1-11) took a wicket too.

Northwich could not build on a foundation laid by Glinoj (11) and Jayasana (24) as they succumbed for 99.

Debutant Liju Lazar (17no) and skipper Gladwin Cherian (16) were the only other batsmen to reach double-digits as a brilliant solo display from Michael Rowlands (8-33) settled the outcome in the away side’s favour.

There was no play at Butcher’s Stile, where Davenham had been due to host Romiley in a Division One fixture.

Results

Vivio Cheshire County League

Week Eight

Saturday, June 8

ECB Premier Division: Widnes 181-4 Oulton Park 97-9. All other matches cancelled.

Division One: All matches cancelled.

Division Two: Congleton 140-7 Lindow 124-9; Northwich 99 Alvanley 176-7; Warrington 80-4 Stockport Georgians 76-8. All other matches cancelled.