ALVANLEY kept their Meller Braggins League survival hopes alive in victory at Malpas.

They could yet stay up if they also win this Saturday's home Division One derby against Runcorn on the final day of the campaign.

Malpas were pegged back to 192-6 by steady bowling from Phil Jones (3-55 from 14) and Peter Pearce (1-51 off 13).

In a reversal of fortunes, Alvanley openers Mark Syzmura (23) and Cei Sanderson (56) passed 50 but the middle order got bogged down.

Needing 78 from 10 overs with six wickets in hand, the acceleration came with sixes and fours, intermingled with scampered singles, from Chris Fletcher and Glen Pickersgill.

Fletcher was run out for a quick 17, attempting to steal a single too many.

But James Rowlinson eased pressure by chalking up four of the 10 needed off the last over from the first ball. Team captain Pickersgill (43no) smashed the winning boundary with two deliveries to spare.

Alvanley 2nd (131-7) lost by five wickets at home to Alderley Park despite 13-year-old Simon Gee notching 35no and bowlers Mike Sant and Nick Geddis, both 15, claiming three wickets between them.

SKIPPER Jamie Hill scrambled a leg-bye for a last-ball win from Runcorn's final home game of the Meller Braggins Cheshire League Division One season, against Lymm OP.

The hard-earned four-wicket success had been set up by a blistering innings from Mark Cahill and a useful contribution with the bat by Iain Williams, who had earlier claimed a spectacular catch.

After Runcorn had elected to field, openers Melia (17) and A Wright (15) were soon dismissed but Oakes took charge, reaching an unbeaten half-century in the last over.

Bone (27) and K Wright (20) supported with the latter hitting two big sixes. Hill took 3-47 and Jack Weston 2-50. They were assisted by Steve Ollerenshaw (1-26 from 14) and Adam Sothern (0-30 off nine).

Runcorn's openers had perished by the 15th over but Cahill claimed six fours and a six in his 39 and Steve Foster (21) took the score to 88-3.

Williams made 30, Weston ten and Ollerenshaw 21no.

With four needed off the last over, Ollerenshaw scored a two and ran a single when dropped at square leg off the penultimate ball.

FRODSHAM (103-8) drew with Glazebury (184ao) in Alliance Division Three.