BOTTOM club Winnington Park gained precious ground on their relegation rivals with a valuable draw at home to promotion-chasing Middlewich in the County League Division Two on Saturday.

The visitors won the toss and put Park in to bat, but captain David Hine (50) and Jonny Wales (51) got the hosts off to a fine start, and further contributions from Sean O’Neill (34) and Mike Caldecott (44) gave Winnington maximum batting points and a final score of 219-6 off 50 overs.

Middlewich never looked like knocking them off and Matt Atherton (4-49) helped reduce them to 178-8 from their 50 overs.

The draw earned Park 16 points and helped close the gap on fellow strugglers Hale Barns and Bredbury St Marks, who were both rained off, as was Park’s 2nd XI match at Bowdon.

RIGHT MOVE ABROAD COUNTY LEAGUE

ECB Premiership

Oulton Park 154-9 Hyde 157-4

FADING champions Oulton Park, previously undefeated for three years, lost their second league game in four, with only new Cheshire opener Jonny Kettle (74) shining in a lacklustre batting performance.

Hyde cantered to a six- wicket win thanks to James Duffy (60no) and Chris Tipper (60).

Defeat means Nathan Dumelow’s side slipped to fifth.

MELLER BRAGGINS LEAGUE

Division One

Davenham 162ao Congleton 138-8

AFTER being put in by the visitors, Mark Greaves (37), Dave Ashley (38) and Mike Kouris (36) helped Davenham post a respectable total.

Congleton never looked like winning thanks to a fine 21-over stint from Dean Jackson (5-40), ably supported by Ashley (3-36).

Division Two

Lymm OP 145-8 Northwich 154-8

NORTHWICH lost the toss and were put in a wet wicket. John O’Sullivan (34) and John Price (36) helped post a testing total.

The home side were cruising to victory at 92-1 before Martyn East (3-22) and Stuart Hayes (3-34) ensured Northwich claimed share of the spoils and 12 points, keeping them top.

Northwich 2nds (184-7) drew with Ashley (111-8) and also remain top, thanks mainly to Craig Douglas (45), Ant Shaw (40) and Chris Yearsley (3-15).

Over Peover 136-8 Weaverham 85-8

WEAVERHAM won the toss and put the hosts in on a sodden wicket in a reduced overs game.

Allen Bell (6-25) ripped through the Peover order, but Weaverham also found batting tricky and only opening bowler James Ollier (25no) offered any resistance.

But six points keep them in the promotion hunt. The second XI’s corresponding fixture was rained off.

Barnton 82ao Barrow 83-1

THE game was won with the toss. Barrow inserted the hosts, who limped to 82, Paul Coot (20) top scoring. The visitors then took 30 overs to knock the runs, but only lost one wicket. The result leaves Barnton languishing in seventh.

The match between Alderley Park and Winsford was abandoned.

Division A

Oakmere 125-9dec Ashton-on-M 98ao

AFTER winning the toss and batting, Oakmere 2nds slumped to 28-5 after 19 overs before recovering thanks to a sixth-wicket stand of 86 between youngsters Tom Clutterbuck (32) and Doug Pinnington (50).

The hosts kept alive their slim title hopes by claiming 25 points with two overs to spare, thanks to the bowling of captain Steve Percival (7-25).

No play was possible at Ashton as the 1st XI game was called off.

CHESHIRE BS CHESHIRE ALLIANCE

Woodford 164-9 Hartford 166-6

HARTFORD muscled their way back into promotion contention with an excellent win over the league leaders. After winning the toss and bowling, Rob Whittle (5-39) helped restrict Woodford to a gettable target.

James Hodgkinson (44) and Gaz Stokes (41) led the charge and Hartford cantered home with eight balls to spare.