Teenager Sophie Ecclestone made a stunning first-team debut to help Alvanley claim their first County League victory of the season.
The 16-year-old took 3-15 as her side won by nine wickets at Irby in Division Two on Saturday.
Left-arm spinner Ecclestone is a member of the England Women’s Under 19s development programme, and also plays for the Cheshire and Lancashire women’s teams. Next week she will play against Australia B for the England Academy team.
Her maiden first-team appearance for Alvanley was certainly one to remember as she teamed up with captain Chris Charles (5-30) to help skittle Irby for 91. In reply, Mike Rowlands and Andy Bennion – aware that rain was approaching – set about the chase positively.
Rowlands looked in great touch, making a mockery of the difficult surface to plunder 33 off 34 balls. He added 48 for the first wicket before playing one big shot too many.
Ste Charles (21no) joined Bennion (33no) and the pair tucked in to the seam bowling while playing the spin watchfully. They took their team home to 93-1 in the 21st over to ensure a 25-0 point margin.
In the ECB Premier on Saturday, Chester Boughton Hall escaped almost certain defeat at home to Macclesfield when rain took 21 overs out of their post-tea innings. Macc totted up an impressive 233-8 (Nick Bertus 58, Rob Keen 57; Ash Davis 4-65) before Boughton Hall crashed to 26-6 after tea.
But time was then lost and when they resumed they took their tally to a precarious finale of 121-9 (Ross Dixon 51) to claim a draw.
In Division One, Oulton Park were outplayed by Oxton as they fell to a loss which sees them slip to fourth. Park did not score enough runs in the first innings, only skipper Pat Roberts (59) showing any resolve against a good bowling attack.
Gayan Fernando and Mahesh Rajaratne bagged five wickets each as Park were all out for 146. Oxton then knocked off the runs inside 22 overs, reaching 147-3.
Sale went 20 points clear at the summit when they beat Christleton by seven wickets. The Swans were bowled out for 102 by Rick Halkon (5-28) and Tyrone Lawrence (4-50). The leaders replied with 105-3 (Ian Dixon 61no).
The Tattenhall v Middlewich clash was abandoned at tea after the visitors had totalled 164, meaning both sides finished with seven points apiece.
Cheshire were crowned the inaugural Unicorns T20 champions on Sunday after a stunning display in Finals Day at Banbury CC.
Having dispatched Devon in the early semi-final, it was one-way traffic in the final as Cheshire struck an amazing 240-0 from their 20 overs before bowling out Oxfordshire for 121 to win by 119 runs.
Warren Goodwin smashed an unbeaten 132 and Ollie Law was 101no as the pair sprayed the ball to all corners.Jack Williams and Ross Dixon then picked up four wickets apiece to complete the victory.
