MATTHEW De Villiers has struggled to make runs for Oakmere at the crease since arriving from South Africa in April.

However he changed that narrative with a stunning century last weekend when the men from Overdale Lane had the better of a draw with neighbours Barnton.

He scored 115 off 89 balls, striking nine fours and four maximums, as the visitors posted a season-best 256-5.

That included a partnership worth 61 runs with Adrian Stubbs (62) before he added 56 in tandem with James Hodkinson (23) and another of 92 with skipper Craig Phelan (28no).

Cory Devanny, with 2-82, was the most successful bowler in an attack that toiled to apply pressure on their opponents.

De Villiers (3-30) dismissed Aussie danger man Brayden Tracey first ball as Barnton wobbled at 16-2 before captain James Hodgkinson (43) and Callum Doyle (64) added 89 runs together for the third wicket.

However the departure of Paul Coot (23) prompted five wickets fall while only 28 runs were added as the home team held on for a draw at 172-9.

Stubbs (4-34) and David Purcell (2-53) played a part, while De Villiers completed a remarkable afternoon with three catches.

Kingsley were thrashed by 137 runs by hosts Cheadle in the same section after they folded to 80 all out.

Set a target of 218 to win, they had no reply to the combined effort of a hungry Paul Brogan (4-28) and Nauman Akram (5-23).

An unhappy day started in the field when their opponents posted 217-5.

Opener Chris Taylor (102no) led the way, sharing in partnerships worth 80 and 76 with Akram (44) and Farhan Khalid (29) respectively.

Austin Smith took 2-52 for Kingsley.

A defiant innings from captain Jake Lightfoot (73 off 55 balls), who struck five boundaries and six maximums, was not enough to prevent Weaverham from losing to Lymm.

The Russets were rolled over for 138, recovering initially from 41-5, when Hayden Bell (28) and his skipper added 66 runs for the sixth wicket.

They were set a target of 237 by guests boosted by a 95-run partnership for the second wicket between Matt Lucas (74) and Sam Pendlebury (58).

Jarrod Pickering, with 3-29, dismissed both.

Winnington Park’s chances of bettering Heaton Mersey’s total felt remote when they found themselves 97-5 in a Division Two encounter.

However Sam Speak (31no) timed perfectly his best innings for the first team, adding 42 runs for the sixth wicket with Jonny Wales (55) - who contributed a third successive half-century – to wrestle back control.

They made it to 156-6 in the penultimate over, a fifth win of the campaign.

Peter Room (1-44) and Joe Stimpson (1-22) had made inroads when the visitors batted first before Damian Stringer (50) and Faisal Maqsood (33) put on 61 for the third wicket.

Wales (5-47) ensured momentum swung his side’s way, while Sam Barnes (1-9 off 11 overs with five maidens) restricted runs to a trickle as the visitors closed on 158-9.

Hartford’s batsmen joined fielders from Rostherne in lying flat on the ground while a swarm of wasps flew across the pitch during their head-to-head.

The visitors went on to post 153-8 when play resumed, with Raj Ranganathan (38), Martin Pickup (35) and Peter Giles (33no) all contributing.

Rostherne wobbled initially at 12-2 before Matt Boswell (67no) and Alex Etherington (48) shared in a third-wicket partnership worth 90 runs that dented Hartford’s victory hopes.

The former was still at the crease when his side reached 154-5.

Results

UKFast Cheshire League

Week 11

Saturday, June 29

Division One: Barnton 172-9 Oakmere 256-5; Cheadle Hulme 217-5 Kingsley 80; Port Sunlight 135 North East Cheshire 204-6; Runcorn 142 Haslington 171; Stockport Trinity 107 Ashton on Mersey 181-9; Weaverham 138 Lymm 236-6

Division Two: Ashley 226-6 Langley 163; Maritime 81-4 Irby 78; Middlewich 147-7 Bredbury St Mark’s 195-5; Stretton 204-7 Prestbury 158; Wilmslow 211-8 Appleton 187-7; Winnington Park 156-6 Heaton Mersey 154-9; Woodford 157 Hawk Green 252