BARNTON won the Vale Royal Indoor Cricket title, banking on their extra experience in the competition and a little tactical nous to overcome Davenham at Tarporley High School.

They won the toss and decided to bowl first with Dave Ashley and Ben Gough opening the batting for Davenham. Barnton's attack of Mattie Bebbington and Paul Coot kept to a tight line and restricted the batsmen so that only 42 came from the first six overs.

Davenham managed to pick up the scoring rate but could reach only 98 off their 12 overs, with both Gough and Ashley getting into the 20s.

Barnton were given a steady start by Coot and Bebbington, who both reached 25 to retire, and Darren Falland blasted a quick-fire 25 so that Barnton needed only a dozen runs off the last four overs.

They won with five wickets and two overs to spare and now represent Vale Royal in the Cheshire play-offs - the county winners going on to a national competition in 2006.