BOWDON lost their second game in three by three wickets at Hyde in a splendid match which produced 540 runs.
They looked safe when they declared at 268-5 (Tony Crozier 71, Gary Yates 56, Jon Bean 43), but Hyde set about their task with relish and raced to 112-1 in an hour before Dave Fitzsimmons was out for 69.
The impetus was regained from 115-4 by Martyn Knight (42) and John Ashley (33) before former India oneday international all-rounder Rudra Singh smashed a lusty 69 not out to steer the Werneth Low side home at 272-7 with two overs to spare.
Nantwich edged to third, their highest position since being runners-up to Bowdon in 1997, when they beat Alderley Edge by four wickets at Whitehouse Lane. Alderley were out for 202 (Jonathan Usher 80 not out, Mark Currie 63, Chris Hampshire 3-41, Barrington Browne 3-60), but the Dabbers made short work of their task with a reply of 204-6 with 10 overs to spare (Paul Hampshire 50, Jeff Maynard 41).
Oxton got their third victory to stay outside the drop zone, beating struggling Didsbury by six wickets at Townf ield Lane. Neil Cross scorched back to form with 93no after Dids-bury were restricted to 158 (Jhangir Abbas 60, Trevor Gane 51). Oxton's Aussie leg-spinner Robin Stafford continued his f ine form with 6-36 from 14 overs.
Urmston won the clash of the bottom teams by eight wickets at home to hapless Bramhall.
Mike Bolger topscored with 67 in Bramhall's 165 (Kurt Edginton 5-39), after which Urmston made it with 60 overs in their locker, Kiwi Mike Davidson scoring 80 and Ian Grindley 47 with an un-broken century part-nership. With Widnes losing their second game in a row in the first division, Poynton grabbed the chance to take the lead.
They hammered bottom club Heaton Mersey by 145 runs at London Road after running up 253-2, Brian Kingham claiming an unbeaten 152, the highest individual score of the season in this division. Mersey managed only 108 (Nick Cantello 36, David Watkins 4-14).
Widnes suffered after an unexpected five-wickets defeat at Upton, their batsmen managing to post only 183-9 (Phil Catterall 349) after being 130-2, Keith Jones returning an excellent 6-39. Upton won at a canter after being in trouble at 89-5, former Marine footballer Chris Camden scoring an unbeaten 59.
Winnington Park moved back into contention, following up their 10-wicket win at Warrington with a nine-wicket defeat of Congleton at the Rec. The South Cheshire side were bowled out for 126 (James Cowell 5-43) and Park responded with 127-1 (James Lewis 75). Only three batsmen have reached the crease in Park's last two games.
Toft continued their impressive season with a four-wicket win at Grappenhall, who they bowled out for 167 (James McCoy 32, Manoj Roy 4-42). Adrian Walker was unbeaten on 57 with Roy 51 in Toft's winning response.
Cheadle Hulme continued their upsurge with a two-wicket win at Warrington, who they dismissed for 157 (Mal Agar 42, Ewan McCray 4-35, Danny Woods 4-64). Nick Murrills (37) and skipper McCray (34) led Cheadle Hulme's reply, when ex-Grove Park bowler Neil Thompson shone with 4-48.
Alsager edged home by one wicket in a fine game against Brooklands, who batted first to score 201-9 (Mike Cassidy 81), Paul Pickford removing the wicket-keeping pads to take 4-23 off six overs. Alsager just made it at 202-9 with just two balls remaining, skipper Gary Pickford hitting 59 and Ken South 31.
Bollington allrounder Kevin Waterhouse must have been miffed at his side's failure to beat Bredbury St Mark's in a second division game in which he slammed a remarkable 180, then followed up with a lengthy 2-52 bowling stint.
Waterhouse's innings was the highest yet recorded in Division Two and the seventh best in the league's annals. It came out of a total of 315-8, another divisional best, and included a century part-nership with Raj Sehn (61) against a useful bowling stint by Aussie Dale Bradley, 5-61.
But Bredbury were not overawed and replied with 234-7 (Chris Wood 70).
This match, which realised an aggregate 549 runs for the loss of 15 wickets, earned 16 points for Bollington and 11 for Bredbury, who need them after having four more docked for a slow over rates.
For the record, Waterhouse now has 691 runs and 26 wickets to his name.
In the day's most signif icant result, Timperley registered their second victory at Sale, who exchanged places with their Stockport Road opponents in the drop zone. Sale were bowled out for 83 (Ray Harris 4-32) and Tom Twiney's 35 saw Timperley home.
Aussie Damon Livermore hammered an unbeaten 143 in Birkenhead Park's 214-2 at home to Cheadle and now has a league best 740 runs to his name. Cheadle settled for a draw, collecting only f ive points, at 146-6 (Chris Grindey 41, Gareth Evans 4-47).
Their 15 draw points mean Park stretch their advantage in front of third-placed Irby, surprisingly easily beaten by Stockport Georgians, 74-run winners at Mill Hill Road. Nick Tyers scored 61 of Georgians' 183-8 and Irby were all out for 109 (Karl Martin 4-21).
Mobberley earned a draw against Marple, Adam Locke (67) top-scoring in the home side's 191-9 (Andy Greasley 4-54). Marple just held out at 176-9 (David Asquith 67no, Steve Smith 61).
