ALVANLEY clawed back plenty of ground on Division One rivals CHOLMONDELEY on Saturday by claiming a two-wicket away win at the death.

The visitors chose to bowl first and, by the 29-over mark, had reduced Chums to 106-4.

A late rally by Ben Briscoe (41), who scampered singles and twos, ensured Cholmondeley closed on a respectable 182-6 (Peter Pearce 4-42).

Alvanley changed their batting line up to promote Glenn Pickersgill, who had to leave before the end to go to a wedding reception, to the top of the order for their reply. But Pickersgill got a nasty rising delivery from Neil Thompson in the first over and was caught for a duck!

By the last over, Alvanley required an unlikely 13 for victory but James Rowlinson and 17-year-old Nick Geddis saw them home.

Geddis ran a two off the last ball to see his team to 183-8 (Ed Middleton 4-35).

TATTENHALL show no sign of surrendering top spot. They claimed a comfortable win at Run-corn on Saturday, reducing the hosts to 33-5 before their innings ended at 171-9.

Mick Alexander led the way with 3-28 off eight overs and was supported by skipper Rob Mulvihill (3-39), Gary Forster (2-51) and Mel Dobson (1-33).

In reply, Tattenhall's John Hope (60) and Danny Ahmad (52) put on an opening stand of 100.

Alexander (28no) and Barry Mitchell (22no) finished the job as Tattenhall raced to 172-2.

In Division Two, BARROW claimed a comfortable win at Barnton to ease their relegation worries.

Accurate bowling by Cowell and Morris limited the home team to 179, with Morris picking up four well-deserved wickets.

In reply, Barrow lost Bell for 17 with the score on 31. Gareth Hughes (48no) came in to join Gareth Pawlett (81no) and the pair saw Barrow home to 180-1.

In Division Three, the absence of several senior players did not prevent CASTROL from returning to winning ways against Holmes Chapel at Chester Road. Castrol were all out for 177 in 43.4 overs but they skittled Holmes Chapel out for just 75 in 24.4 overs, Damian Walters leading the hosts' charge with 5-19 from his 10 overs.