Cheshire Alliance: Wheels come off title drive in close-run thing

SANDBACH's unbeaten run came to a dramatic end at Kingsley on Saturday.

Batting first in the Division One clash, they got off to a dreadful start and were 34-8 after just 12 overs. Youngsters Dan Coppenhall (24) and Steve Gregson (11) came together and showed great resilience, but their side was bowled out for 72.

Kingsley started slowly on a wicket which still had bounce and turn, but at 33-1 they seemed home and dry.

Then Kharum Butt (5-17) ripped out the middle order, taking three wickets in one over, all caught close in by Richard Pickford.

Tight bowling from skipper Jon Fox (2-38) kept up the pressure on Kingsley and wickets began to fall regularly. At 68 the ninth wicket fell but the last two batsmen just held on to win with 76-9.

BUNBURY beat Barclays Radbroke Hall by eight wickets after bowling them out for 69 (Dave Roberts 6-46). Bunbury won with 70-2 (Oliver Williamson 35).

HOLMES CHAPEL lost by 68 runs at Appleton, who batted first and made 188-8. In reply, Chapel were bowled out for 120.

ASTON lost to visitors Woodford by eight wickets after being bowled out for 143.

Woodford won the game with 146-2.

In Division Three, HASLINGTON had to settle for a share of the spoils with visitors Mossley.

The Mossley batsmen were held in check by the Haslington bowling attack led by Richard Brown (3-61). Only Andy Sadler (40) looked comfortable, as the visitors were restricted to 148-7.

In reply, the Squirrels were well-placed at 126-3 (Dave France 55) until the wheels came off. Two runs were required for victory off the final delivery, but Simon Patterson (2) was run out trying to get them.

Haslington 2nds won at Mossley 2nds, after they batted first and declared at 177-9 (James Blake 41). In reply, Mossley had no answer to Chris Ridley, who returned the remarkable figures of 5-5 as the hosts were 39 all out.

ASTON drew at home to Ellesmere Port, after batting first and posting 199-5.

They were in trouble after losing four wickets for 31 runs. With just eight overs left, they were 99-5, with Tom Measures (57 not out) the only batsman coping well.

But Warner Baxter (80no) arrived and joined Measures in an unbeaten century stand, hitting 12 fours and three sixes to take Audlem to 199-5. In their reply, Roy Wild took 5-67 as Port finished on 180-8.