DANNY Leech marked his return for Oulton Park by scoring a half-century but it was not enough to avoid a 47-run defeat against Alderley Edge.

Cheshire’s three-day captain contributed 62 for the hosts at Pinfold Lane after they were set at target of 183, off 38 overs, to win a Premier Division fixture cut short by rain earlier in the day.

He added 61 in tandem with Mark Latham (28) for the fourth wicket, helping the Little Budworth recover from 41-3.

However his departure was followed by a collapse that saw the six wickets fall for a mere 33 runs.

Stephen Parry, with 5-25, was a match-winner for the visitors, supported by Charlie Reid (2-19).

Alderley Edge had declared at 182-8 after 32 overs, opener Calum Rowe (38) and Sam Perry (40) providing initial momentum with a partnership worth 66 runs for the second wicket.

Tom Hyslop (4-28 off seven overs) was the pick of Oulton Park’s bowlers, while slow bowler Andrew Dufty (3-54) was among the wickets again too.

Ben Kettle was responsible for two stumpings behind the wicket.

Northwich were competitive during a clash with Barrow before falling to a four-wicket reverse.

A seventh defeat of the campaign leaves them adrift at the bottom of the Division Two table.

They were dismissed for 122 after being put in, a return that will have felt disappointing after Zenol Jayasena (29) and captain Gladwin Cherian (33) took them to 52-1.

Iro De Silva then took control for the hosts, taking 6-19 from 11 overs.

Only Anil Meesala (17) defied him.

Barrow’s reply was not trouble-free, and they found themselves 34-3 after James Gittings (1-28) and Jordan McDonough (2-30) broke through.

Alex Reid (54) remained calm, soothing concerns his side might fold by steering them to 101 before he became one of Justine Joseph’s three victims.

Davenham were left frustrated after a third abortion of the 2019 campaign put paid to a head-to-head with Bollington in Division One.

They had made it to 82-4 off 21 overs before rain stopped play.

Results

Vivio Cheshire County League

Week Nine

Saturday, June 15

ECB Premier Division: Chester Boughton Hall 230-7 Grappenhall 189; Neston 130-3 Hyde 128; Oulton Park 135 Alderley Edge 182-8 dec.

Abandoned: Cheadle v Timperley; Toft v Widnes.

Division One: Macclesfield 107-6 Didsbury 180-7 dec; Oxton 54 Bramhall 170.

Abandoned: Bollington v Davenham; Brooklands v Bowdon. Cancelled: Urmston v Upton.

Division Two: Barrow 124-6 Northwich 122; Congleton 203-7 Stockport 28; Lindow 103-2 Tattenhall 102; Stockport Georgians 205-7 dec Mobberley 33-6.

Abandoned: Hale Barns v Christleton. Cancelled: Alvanley v Warrington.