CREWE made a fine start to the Division One double-header weekend with a dramatic win at Bignall End.
After rattling up a season's best total of 249-7 declared, it looked as though Crewe were going to be held to a frustrating draw before a late flurry of wickets ended with leading wicket taker Nick Lange claiming the final Bignall wicket with just two balls remaining.
Earlier, the Crewe batsmen had prospered with Aamir Iqbal making a fine 94, including 16 fours and a six before being run out.
Young left hander Martin Dawson (38) dominated an opening partner-ship of 48 with Mohammed Amin before Nick Lange (39), Tom Gower (20) and Matt Dawson (26no) helped Iqbal to pile on the runs before the tea declaration.
When Bignall replied, Lange picked up two early wickets before a half-century part-nership held Crewe up. The introduction of spinners Martin Webb and Mohammed Taj paid dividends as they picked up a wicket apiece. But once Lange claimed his third victim, Bignall put the shutters up at 106-5.
Tom Gower broke a dogged partnership before opening bowlers Lange and Matt Dawson were recalled. They clinched the win with two wickets each as Bignall were bowled out for 157; Lange finishing with 5-53 as Crewe claimed the maximum 25 points.
On Sunday, a depleted Crewe side missing four first-team regulars picked up another six points from a rain-affected draw at Stafford.
The home side batted first and declared on 194-7 with veteran seamer Bernie Bishop the pick of the Crewe attack with 5-34.
Crewe's reply was interrupted several times by the weather, leaving them just 34 overs against the hostile attack of Dave Fallett and Mark Bengry. Crewe did well to reach 139-6 with Tom Gower making a splendid 52no and Aamir Iqbal (28), Mark Hurst (15) and Mohammed Amin (15) offering solid support.
Crewe host neighbours Elworth this Saturday (1.30pm).
The rain put a dampener on Elworth's hopes of going top of Division One at the weekend.
On Saturday, spinner Jim Higgins took 3-62 as Rode Park declared on 216-9, batting first, and Elworth had reached 49-3 when heavy showers led to the match being abandoned.
More rain led to Sunday's start against Kidsgrove being delayed until 3.10pm in a game limited to 82 overs.
Rob Beech (54no) and Andy Thurston (43no) came to Elworth's rescue after a sticky start.
They eventually posted 144-5 from 45 overs, as they resisted some hostile bowling from ex-Indian Test player Sanjeev Sharma.
Kidsgrove were given only 37 overs to chase the total and reached 104-5, with Higgins (3-36) again the pick of the bowlers.
Haslington had the better of their draw at Cheadle on Saturday with all-rounder Andre Percival again a star turn with bat and ball.
Richard Pickford made 52 and Percival 48 to top score in Haslington's total of 165-7. And although Percival picked up 5-36 with the ball, the home side held out on 79-8. Haslington collected eight points to Cheadle's four.
Another fine innings from Percival on Sunday was not enough to prevent Haslington slipping to defeat at the hands of Rode Park at Clay Lane.
Tom Gledhill picked up 3-60 as Park posted 191-6 declared.
But although Percival hit an excellent 79, Haslington were dismissed for 146.
In the ECB Premier Division, torrential rain brought an early end to Betley's run chase at Knypersley on Saturday. The hosts declared on 175-2 with Ross Salmon unbeaten on 79, but Betley had reached just 11-0 when showers turned into a storm.
