CHESTER Boughton Hall were left with an impossible situation in their big Chapel Press Cheshire County League Premier Division derby clash at home to Nantwich on Saturday.
The defending champions were put in to bat, slumped to 11-4 thanks to some impressive early work from Alex Kegg (3-30), but recovered to post 203-7dec off 52 overs courtesy of a second successive unbeaten century from former Oulton Park ace Louis Bentley (134).
A long rain stoppage reduced Hall’s reply, originally 35 overs, to just 21.
They eventually reached 68-4, Lee Dixon hitting 24no, to bank five points to Nantwich’s nine from the draw.
Hall, who host Toft in the Cheshire Cup semi-finals on Saturday, are now 16 points off table-topping Oxton.
On a superb – and totally dry – pitch at Parkgate, Neston went down by four wickets at home to Alderley Edge.
The hosts put on 194, with opener Andy Murphy firing 77 and number five Chad Wilson adding 45, but were then unable to prevent the Moss Lane outfit from flaying 195-5 in reply, Chris Finegan doing his best with 4-73.
Chester Boughton Hall slipped to the bottom of Cheshire Women’s League Division One after surprisingly failing to raise a team for their trip to Hyde on Sunday.
Hall (39-0) had run out 10-wicket winners at Neston (38-5) in the Twenty20 Western Division, Kate Coppack smashing a rapid 27.
