WITHOUT five regulars, Malpas suffered an eight-wickets defeat at Sale in their Division One match on Saturday.

They declared on 118-8 with Stuart Bradley hitting 29 not out and Dave Hunt adding 27. But in reply, the hosts cruised to victory and made the most of some luck in the second over when one of their openers seemed to have been caught behind, but was given not out and went on to score an undefeated 80.

Malpas seconds had the better of a draw with Bowdon Vale.

Malpas are at home to Burnage tomorrow. Alvanley returned from Wilmslow with a draw after captain Glen Pickersgill won the toss and put the hosts in on a damp green track.

After 12 overs Wilmslow were 33-3, and 59-5 after 17 overs. Their captain Harris steadied the situation with dogged support from Cowen and the game moved away from Alvanley as 60 runs were added in the next nine overs and Harris remained undefeated to finish 92no as Wilmslow closed at 209-8 off their 45 overs. Hawking claimed 4-52 off 14 overs.

After tea, Alvanley were cruising at 93-2 off 21 overs, so Wilmslow changed their bowlers. Newson's gentle drifters were too tempting for Charles who was stumped off his third delivery for 33. Andy Senior could not resist the temptation either and was caught at long-off for five, then Hawking thick edged a catch to the short third-man boundary for 31. Newson had taken 3-9 off 20 deliveries and Alvanley had slumped to 111-5 in 28 overs.

Chris Fletcher took the attack to Wilmslow with two huge sixes in his quickfire 28 before he toe-ended a catch to the square-leg boundary.

Dark clouds encroached on the ground with the threat of rain imminent. Visibility became difficult for the Alvanley lower order before Peter Pearce (8no) and Mike Sant secured the draw with 173-9 on the board.

A weakened Alvanley seconds struggled to restrict Lindow to 191-4 off their 45 overs, but they got home by three wickets.

Barrow travelled to the edge of the Pennines to play fourth-placed Pott Shrigley and, after six overs, the Barrow openers Nick Bell and Matt Harman were well on top, scoring at six an over.

The young Shrigley opening bowler was then replaced in order to curtail the run rate. The effect was more devastating as the two openers were dismissed in consecutive overs.

The bowling was tight but not dangerous and the Barrow batsmen were still expecting a large total. Within the course of five overs, the Barrow optimism had gone with a monumental middle-order collapse - five wickets for no runs.

The remaining Barrow batsmen, especially Hornby, managed to score some runs, but Barrow were all out for 78 off only 32 overs.

Despite four lbw decisions going against the batsmen, this was a lamentable performance.

Despite Barrow trying hard to take early wickets, the game drifted away from the fielding side with Pott Shrigley passing the Barrow total for the loss of only one wicket.

Tomorrow, Barrow host Division Two leaders Oakmere who won at Cholmondeley. The hosts were bowled out for 142 after Oakmere had declared on 175-8.