CHESHIRE are on course to lift the Minor Counties Championship Western Division title after maintaining their unbeaten season with a 125-run victory over Oxfordshire at Nantwich yesterday.
The in-form county side now have just one game to play, against Wales at Chester Broughton Hall on August 21-23, and are in line to earn a place in the championship final against the eastern division winners.
Cheshire started strongly on Sunday and captain Andy Hall (106) smashed a brilliant century on Monday to keep his team in the driving seat, in front of a healthy crowd at Whitehouse Lane. His nine fours and one giant six set their opponents a daunting target of 365 to win, after Cheshire's second innings.
In their reply, Oxfordshire slipped to 176-5 at the close on Monday. Ex-Nottinghamshire fast bowler Dave Pennant helped finish the job yesterday, returning 5-45 as Oxfordshire were all out for 240.
Cheshire spokesman Neil Goulding said: 'The win earned us 23 points. We have to see how our main challengers Dover fare, but it puts us within a great chance of the title with one game left to play.'
