Northwich 117 Chester County Offices 140

AN enormously disappointing batting performance saw Northwich lose by 23 runs.

Lee Evans took 6-48 to dismiss the visitors for an under par score, but Northwich never got anywhere near the target as only Andy Gerrard stuck around long enough to post a half decent score of 29.

The result leaves Northwich in fourth place, eight points off the pace, but with the eight teams separated by just 29 points, it opens up the race for promotion.

n Northwich lost by 54 runs against Chester Boughton Hall in the Lovelane Cheshire Cup on Sunday. Chester BH made 184-9, and an outstanding bowling and fielding display was tainted by another poor batting performance.

In midweek the 2nds progressed in the Twenty20 knockout with a comfortable win over Wistaston.

* Northwich won the toss and solid contributions all the way down posted a total of 122-7 from their 20 overs. The visitors were never in it and not a single batsmen reached double figures as Mike Whitehead took 3-14, Mark Phillips 2-4 and Craig Douglas 2-3 to dismiss them for 44. They were due to play Oakmere last night.