WINNING ways returned for Chester Boughton Hall on Saturday in a vital top of the table clash at Neston.
A good wicket and a good-sized crowd greeted the Chester team, who were asked to bowl first.
The familiar pairing of Alex Kegg and Heath Pritchard gave a typical display of new ball bowling. After 20 overs Neston had scored just 31 runs for the loss of two wickets.
Fine fielding helped to build this pressure and one by one the Neston batsmen succumbed, losing half their team for 79.
Dave Atkin, bowling at his best, removed the dangerous Stan Clifford after he had made a half century, and the the rest of the innings was a formality as 'supermop' Kegg took care of the tail.
Steven Ogilby gave another superb display of wicketkeeping, bagging four victims. Neston closed on 125 all out.
The early loss of Pritchard did not prevent a onesided finish to the game. Ed Roberts continued his fine form, striking 41.
Matt Griffiths returned to form with a sparkling 56 not out and the job was finished for the loss of just two wickets by Ogilby (24 not out) with a six to give the visitors 25 points. Those points take 'Hall clear second and just 10 points off leaders Bowdon, who they visit on Saturday.
Sunday's visit of Toft in the League Knockout saw an exciting game. Chester faltered to 156 all out - Pritchard making a fine 76 which stood on its own until George Robinson and Kegg conspired to muster 25 for the last wicket.
On a tricky wicket this should have been enough - and was. Tight bowling from Kegg, Pritchard, Griffiths and in particular David Shewring saw Chester home by 24 runs to book a quarter-final with either Congleton or Bredbury.
DRAW FOR THE QUARTER-FINALS OF THE MURRAY SMITH CHESHIRE COUNTY LEAGUE FRED GRAHAM TROPHY (Sunday, August 10) is: Bredbury St. Mark's v Chester Boughton Hall; Bowdon v Nantwich; Oulton Park v Widnes; Winnington Park v Alderley Edge. SEMI-FINALS OF THE LEAGUE'S TAYLOR INSURANCES TROPHY (on Sunday): Hyde v Didsbury; Toft v Neston.
WINNERS of five of their six ECB 50 Plus County cham-pionship games, Cheshire will qualify for the national quarter-finals if they win their final zonal fixture against Notts at Caythorpe tomorrow (1 p.m). Manager Norman Halsall names a full-strength team captained by Grappenhall's Nick Sharp.
