T20 kings Chester Boughton Hall are on the march again.

Lee Dixon’s side, who won the Fred Graham Trophy last weekend, were in fine limited-overs form once again on Sunday as they reached the regional finals of the NatWest Club T20 competition.

It seems Boughton Hall are intent on retaining the crown they won in memorable fashion last year.

In Sunday’s area finals, they scraped through their semi-final against North Staffs & South Cheshire League leaders Stone, posting a below-par 129-9 (Warren Goodwin 39) before restricting their opponents to 126-6.

They took on Birmingham League outfit Walsall in the final, batting well to reach an excellent 166-5 (Rick Moore 70). Off-spinner Harry Killoran then claimed a valuable 4-28 as the Midlands side, who had overcome Mochdre in their semi, were all out for 145.

It all means Hall are through to the North West regional final, which will be staged at Ormskirk CC on Sunday, August 16. Victory there would see them through to the national final at Cardiff’s Swalec Stadium on Monday, September 1, an event which will be televised live on Sky Sports.

But while there is seemingly no stopping Boughton Hall in T20 cricket, their County League form has dipped of late. On Saturday, Neston beat them in a low-scoring, 70-over affair at Parkgate.

The Wirral hosts were bowled out for 138 (Simon Stokes 54; Harry Killoran 5-17, Ash Davis 4-39). But it was 33 too many for Chester, who lost for the third successive Saturday when they were dismissed for 105 (Ross Dixon 46), the match-winning bowlers being Paul Stimson (4-28) and Simon Mugarva (4-54).

Park pip Tatts in thriller at the Flacca

In Division One, Oulton Park missed a chance to close the gap on front-runners Sale and Timperley when they lost a spectacular game at Tattenhall.

Oulton rattled up 245-3 declared in 43 overs after Nick James (91) and Martyn East (90) had put on 187 for the first wicket. Tatts replied with 246-8, their winning runs coming from 55.4 overs (one lost to rain) with two balls to spare. Their charge was led by Dan Power (73no), Ollie Thompson (58) and Henry Dobson (50), fresh from playing in the Bunbury Under 15s Festival.

Christleton were without run-machine Mitch Renwick but were still able to beat title chasers chasers Timperley at Little Heath. The hosts totalled 213 (Tom Norris 96, Ben Paterson 54; Jack White 6-62). Timperley openers Mike Ness (51) and Dan Cooper (45) put on 88 but the innings slumped to 170 all out (Zaighum Abbas 4-53).

Final-over drama boosts Alvanley

In Division Two, Alvanley claimed a three-run home win over Widnes in a match which had pretty much everything.

Skipper Steve Charles, standing in for absent brother Chris, won the toss and elected to bat but Alvanley were soon reeling at 33-3 before dipping to 75-5.

Andy Bennion came in at number seven and looked sharp from the outset, clipping well through the leg side. He and Chris Jones added 48 runs in 11 overs before Jones fell to the extra bounce of Luke McCoy. Ed Speakman joined Bennion and took the score from 123 to 157 before Bennion snicked a ball to the slips for a run-a-ball 46.

Billy Ouzinidis and Ian Charles played sensibly in the final overs, meaning Alvanley were eventually all out for a competitive 185.

There were early wickets in Widnes’ reply as they were 25-3, but they recovered to 105-4 after 34 overs. The visitors progressed to 176-8 – needing 10 runs to win off 10 balls – and, by the final over, needed eight for victory.

Mike Rowlands bowled it. James Menzies was stumped by Si Gee off the first ball before three singles were added. But off the fifth ball over the over, Kenny Roberts’ superb throw to Gee allowed the wicket-keeper to stump Rajiv Singh and wrap up a dramatic win for Alvanley. Rowlands ended with 3-31 off 10.5 excellent overs as Widnes were all out for 182.

Alvanley's players celebrate their dramatic County League victory over Widnes
Alvanley's players celebrate their dramatic County League victory over Widnes