MALPAS' new Australian bowler Jack Scascighini stole the show in a low-scoring victory at home to Weaverham in Division One.

He claimed 6-42, including a hat-trick, to polish off the visitors for 88. Weaverham were going strong at 56-1, but they lost nine wickets for 32 as medium-pacer Scascighini worked his magic. Johnny Suckley supported with 3-21 from 11 overs.

Earlier, Malpas had struggled to 97 all out in 38 overs, with Keith Ricketts and Dave Hunt sharing the top score of 16.

The second-team match was cancelled. Tomorrow, Malpas are at Barrow who crashed to a heavy defeat in a low-scoring game at Hale Barns.

With the outfield looking more like a swamp, it first appeared that the umpires would call the game off, but with the aid of a drying wind and adjustments to the boundary the game was started, reduced to 37 overs apiece.

With Barrow winning the toss and inserting the opposition, hopes were high. The openers played the bad ball well, gaining early boundaries, but Mal Barrow continued his immaculate bowling line and eventually caused the first breakthrough with the score on 31.

A tight spell of bowling from Chris Cowell and Barrow reduced the scoring rate, although a final push for runs allowed the score to reach 125-6, Barrow and Cowell taking three wickets each.

The Barrow opening partnership of James Myers and Matt Harman looked in no trouble, quickly reaching 32 before Myers was adjudged lbw.

The combination of some tight bowling from Molley and a receptive umpire led to three of the top six batsmen being given out lbw.

This ruined the game and Barrow eventually capitulated, being all out for 76, the only notable contribution coming from a last-wicket partner-ship of 31 between Dave Ellwood and the promising young all-rounder Phil Johnson. nAfter two wins, Oakmere tasted defeat at home to Prestbury. They were put in on a damp wicket and all the top-order batting failed as only 19 from Paul Hutchinson, 30 from Craig Phelan and 22no from Nick Porter facilitated a recovery from 42-6 to 122-8.

Prestbury struggled early on but had a match-winner in Andrew Wright (59no). He survived a shout for caught behind while on nought.

Peter Hutchinson took 2-29 and there was a wicket each for Andy Beswick, Andy Norton and Phelan as Prestbury scored 124-6.

There was better news on Sunday for Oakmere, who won their National Village Knockout tie at Compstall by 58 runs.

A repeat of Saturday's game looked likely at 30-3, but Paul Guilford (51) and Phelan (69) put on 127 for the fourth wicket. Oakmere closed on 174-9 in 40 overs and, after tea, Norton (2-5), Peter Hutchinson (2-33) and Phelan (3-33) took the wickets and dismissed Compstall for 116. nAfter three games, Alvanley are setting the pace in the second division after cruising to victory at Holmes Chapel with 12 overs to spare.

Opening bowlers James Rowlinson and Mark Leadbetter bowled accurate spells, restricting the home team to just 13 runs off the first 12 overs, with Leadbetter picking up a well-earned first wicket of the season.

The home team batsmen got no let-up when Peter Pearce and Nick McKay took over the bowling responsibility, and only Price (32) looked dangerous as wickets fell on a regular basis.

Then Phil Jones bowled a remarkable spell of 2-9 off eight overs, which left Holmes Chapel in deep trouble at 95-6. Pearce and McKay accounted for most of the late order but could not secure the final wicket as the hosts closed at 122-9.

Alvanley lost Ian Charles in the sixth over of their reply, but Mark Szymura and McKay put on a healthy partnership of 72 to set the foundation.

By the time Szymura was out lbw for 18, the home team's bowling attack looked tired and beaten. McKay helped himself to a volley of boundaries on his way to his second consecutive half-century and when he was bowled for 65, John Farmer (14no) ensured Alvanley clinched a seven-wickets victory.

Alvanley's seconds finally got their season under way after two cancellations and drew with Ashton-on-Mersey, who totalled 150-9 (Peter French 4-37, Mike Sant 2-20). Alvanley replied with 105-9 (Simon Gee 37). Playing at home, they restricted Ashton to 150-9, with Peter French starting in the same vein as he ended 2004 with four wickets for 37 runs off 15 overs.

Cholmondeley settled for a draw, hitting 169-5 at home to CH Ladybridge who hung on at 115-9.