CHESTER County Officers fell three runs short of victory on a wet wicket at Chelford.
They fielded first and Shiells went early, caught and bowled by Andy Barlow, but Dickenson and Aussie Weston went for it and put on 57 before Steve Johnson caught a steepling skyer to slow Chelford down.
The hosts rode their luck with some unconvincing shots but managed to register a fair target of 176-7. Andy Barlow took 2-40, Johnson 2-48 and John Gilbody 3-41 in a good fielding performance.
Officers needed a solid base but were denied it by a disastrous run-out as form player Tony Hattersley was lured into a suicidal single.
Mike Clarke followed soon after, but Ian Barlow imposed himself on the game with some crashing cuts. Mike Rowlands was lbw for 10 and Gilbody followed the same way for seven to leave Officers struggling at 67-4.
Tony Collard, with 21, kept the scoreboard moving and when Ian Barlow was out for an excellent 32, Adam Grewargis (20) assisted Johnson (32) with what seemed to be a match-winning part-nership.
But with six needed and three wickets in hand off the last over, wickets tumbled and CCO drew the game as Andy Barlow was bowled trying to hit the winning runs. The game was drawn when home skipper Weston took two late wickets, Officers ending on 174-9.
The seconds won again as a solid team performance demolished a weak Chelford side. Steve Holland (40) and Chris Wright (32no) starred for the batting side and Geoff Stubbins accumulated 18.
Chelford reached 70-1 but collapsed with the introduction of spinner Chris Wright, who took 3-5. Mike Barrow and Daz Griffiths took two each and CCO pocketed 25 points.
Holders Chester reached the last 16 of the League Cup with a hard-fought victory at third division Grange.
On a rain-affected wicket, Officers slumped to 23-4 before Johnson took the bull by the horns and smashed 46. Mike Clarke (27) gave great support, before a late collapse saw the last six wickets go for 28 runs.
Officers knew the wicket was testing and so it proved as Grange were also reduced to 23-4, the first wicket falling to a fantastic run-out with a direct hit by Sean Watts.
Grange seemed overawed by the occasion and accurate bowling had them out for 89. Johnson, six overs for six runs, clinched the man-of-the-match award for the second day running, while Andy Barlow (2-20), Alan Roberts (3-13), Grewargis (3-30) and Clarke (1-11) all performed to a high standard.
Kingsley's first team scrapped out a draw in a high-scoring game at Rad-broke Hall, whose batsmen all played their shots against Kingsley's depleted bowling line-up as they racked up 225-6 declared. Opener Forsyth survived some early scares to hit nine straight sixes in an unbeaten 130.
Following another solid opening stand, the middle order of Kieron Ollier and Mark Butcher played themselves in cautiously before making a gallant effort to reach the total. But with the run-rate up to 10 an over, first Butcher (33) and then Ollier (76) were caught in the deep and it was left to the lower order to bat out for a draw at 192-7.
It was simply a case of too many mistakes in the field for Kingsley seconds, but they held on for a losing draw. After putting Radbroke in serious trouble at 48-6, dropped catches meant that they were allowed to recover and eventually posted a respectable total of 151-9 in their 48 overs. Oultram was economical again with 3-19 of 10 overs and Storey also took three wickets.
In Kingsley's reply, wickets fell at regular intervals, meaning the run chase was always going to be hard. Middle-order batsmen Ashley (26), Leatherland (32) and Ainsworth (26) all chipped in, but no-one could find that match-winning innings, with the total falling short at 128-9.
Saughall were beaten in a high-scoring encounter against their local rivals Capenhurst. After being put in to bat on a damp track, the Saughall openers had to contend with a seaming new ball and some extravagant bounce. But they weathered the storm to lay solid foundations for the innings.
James Huxley made 27 before he was caught and bowled, while Ben Salisbury went on to complete an excellent half century before he was superbly caught in the deep for 65.
Mike Rowson smashed a quick 26 - that included 25 runs off one over of spin - but following his dismissal, the visitors tightened up and fought back with a flurry of wickets.
Saughall were 148-6 and needed to rebuild if they were to reach maximum batting points. Youngster Andy Thomas responded to his promotion to number three in the batting order and added a valuable 50 partnership with Mark Tunnicliffe, as Saughall reached 198-6 before the declaration arrived. Thomas ended with 37no while Tunnicliffe was unbeaten on 14.
It was a dangling carrot of a declaration on a flat batting track, and Capenhurst's response started solidly with partnerships of 38 and 90 as Saughall toiled in the sunshine.
James Huxley (1-23) was especially unlucky not to pick up more than just one wicket in an economical 123-over spell that saw the ball beat the edge regularly.
Despite an unspectacular start, Capen-hurst had plenty of wickets in hand and were in prime position to accelerate. Spinner Chris Andrews pegged back the run-chase though with three important wickets, including a lightning stumping from keeper Ian Jenkins and a second expertly-judged catch of the match from debutant Jon Grimshaw.
Going into the final few overs of the match, Capenhurst needed seven runs an over and when Pete Tunnicliffe eventually claimed the wicket he had threatened all afternoon, and Andrews (4-64) picked up another victim, the draw seemed the likely outcome.
However, three successive boundaries swung the pendulum to the visitors, who were able to celebrate an impressive run-chase for the loss of six wickets. Saughall will curse their bad luck that James Huxley broke a bone in his hand attempting a diving catch in the outfield, and was unable to bowl again at a critical time.
