CHESHIRE captain Andy Hall paid a glowing tribute to his side as they kept their Championship Final dreams alive with a thrilling victory away to Wales MC at Abergavenny.

The visitors left Wales 262 for victory off 55 overs, but Dave Pennett (4-32) and Bootle's leftarm spinner Robin Fisher (3-50) made sure Cheshire took full points.

Pennett also weighed in with a useful half-century, his first for his county, while former Hampshire ace Simon Renshaw contributed 32 as Hall's men were dismissed for 187 in their second innings.

Cheshire move into second-place and must now beat Shropshire in their last match (August 17-19) to stand a chance of making this year's showcase final.

"I'm delighted with the way we played," beamed Hall, whose side remain unbeaten in the Western Division this season. "It was a great performance to bowl them out twice.

"All the bowlers worked really hard and got their just rewards."

Berkshire won at Wiltshire off the last over to maintain a slender gap at the top. But full points for Cheshire in their last match would keep the pressure on their fellow title-chasers.

Cheshire chairman Gerry Hardstaff said: "It's a great turn-around because we did have a hard season last year, but we kept going in this match and that was spearheaded by Andy Hall's 175 in the first innings.

"All the bowlers chipped in with wickets as well, on a slow pitch."