Cricket: Chester County Officers held to draw by table-topping Kingsley

KINGSLEY are still top of Meller Braggins League Division Two after a rearguard fight from their middle and lower order saw them avoid defeat against fellow high-flyers Chester County Officers on Saturday.

Put into bat on a remarkably dry track, visitors CCO posted a sizeable 169-9 thanks mainly to opener Mike Rowlands (90).

After losing Ian Rule early, Chris Wright joined Rowlands at the crease and the pair took the score to 103 before Wright was bowled for 26.

Jehangir Affridi (23) found the boundary with his first aggressive shot but both he and Rowlands departed just before CCO had reached 150.

The lower order batsmen showed how tricky it was to score quickly from the off as CCO finished on 169-9 from 45 overs.

Travis Martin ended with 4-65 from 17 overs and was ably supported by a first bowl of the season from Ben Pearce (4-42).

The second half of the match was dominated by Vamshidhar Parvathaneni (7-11), who obliterated Kingsley’s top order.

The hosts were 12-6 at one stage but neither Vamshi nor the other CCO bowlers could break through Kinglsey’s youthful defence at the end as they held out for a draw on 51-8.

Chester left the field with a disappointing 14 points to Kingsley’s seven but are still hot on their heels in second.

BUNBURY recorded a seven-wicket home victory over Lymm, who were looking likely to set a good score until Danny Roberts made a decisive breakthrough.

This triggered a collapse as Owen Williamson (3-21) and Stewart Macleod (4-23) ripped through the middle and lower order to reduce Lymm to 119ao.

In reply, James Bettaney (15) started with a huge six. Birthday boy Simon Lamb (20) and Williamson (47no) were in masterful form as the spinners of Lymm stemmed the run flow.

Alex Livingston (31no), on debut, saw the Greens home to 121-3.

Mid-table CHOLMONDELEY cruised to a convincing nine-wicket success at Winsford.

The hosts were bowled out for 137 and Chum responded with 138-1.

OAKMERE lot out at home to Davenham in Division One.

The visitors racked up 162-9dec, with Michael Cushion (3-28) and Phil Nelson (3-39) sharing three wickets each.

But Paul Hutchinson (20) was the only Oakmere batsman to reach double figures as the hosts were skittled out for 64.

Barrow’s Division Three match at Disley was cancelled.