CHESTER Boughton Hall moved to the top of the Vivio County League Premier Division table with a handsome eight-wicket win over Oxton at Filkins Lane.
Skipper Steve Ogilby’s decision to invite Oxton to bat proved a good one. Although Simon Stokes (24) and Alex Hughes (15) gave the visitors a solid start, both were removed in quick succession by Jordan Clark to leave them wobbling on 46-2.
Oxton never recovered from the setback and it took a cameo innings from Chris Cashin (28) low in the order to lift them to a total of 125 all out in the 50th over.
Youngster Harry Killoran took five wickets in a first XI game for the first time, finishing with an impressive 5-31 from 17.2 overs.
Chester’s emergency opener Matthew Griffiths, formerly an Oxton regular, got the reply off to a quickfire start with 26, then Clark added a solid 21 before being caught at slip.
Warren Goodwin contributed a well played innings of 59no from the other end as the home side got home with plenty to spare.
On Saturday, Boughton Hall host their annual grand summer ball in the marquee at Filkins Lane.
Former Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson is the quest speaker at the marquee on Monday, just four days before the start of the Ashes series.
Cheshire head to Dorset this weekend looking to build on a fine start to their Minor Counties Championship campaign.
They claimed the scalps of Oxfordshire and Wiltshire in their first two matches, and while Dorset may be firmly rooted to the foot of the Western Division table, skipper Danny Woods is under no illusions about the challenge ahead.
He said: “Dorset have been strong in recent years. They beat us last year in the cup quarter final and we’re only too aware of their strengths.”
The three-day contest begins on Sunday.
