Cricket: Batting collapse sees Tattenhall beaten by Middlewich

A BELOW-PAR total meant Tattenhall were always in trouble on Saturday as they fell to defeat at home to Middlewich in Division Two.

The hosts won the toss and decided to bat on what was a very good Flacca wicket – but they failed dismally to cash in and soon found themselves reeling at 11-4.

John Hope, who was dropped early in his innings, went on to steady Tattenhall by making a much-needed 46.

Gary Forster’s unbeaten 32, along with some help from Mel Dobson, saw Tatts forge a hard-earned but inadequate total of 139.

Middlewich’s top-order had no such trouble with the good batting conditions and cruised to 140-2.

Forster stuck to the basics and was rewarded with a wicket, as was Dobson, but the damage had been done earlier in the day.

In the Premier Division, CHESTER BOUGHTON HALL were no match for Hyde at Werneth Low.

The visitors were bowled out for 186, Ed Roberts top-scoring with 39 as Danny Berry took 3-47. With Chris Tipper scoring 76 and Dave Fitzsimmons 53no, Hyde eased home by five wickets.

Boughton Hall will be hoping for better from this Saturday’s Filkins Lane meeting with title-hunting Nantwich, who are third.

A Nantwich side minus New Zealand Test star Lou Vincent, whose wife was giving birth, came unstuck at home to NESTON.

Occasional bowler David Hurst bagged 4-49 to restrict the Dabbers to a modest 161-9. Neston, themselves without 1,000-run skipper Jack Smith, had fellow Aussie David Pavlinovich (72) to thank for their solid reply of 162-7 with one over remaining.

OULTON PARK are now joint second with Nantwich after a winning draw against Alderley Edge at Little Budworth, when they ran up a massive 316-9 in 55 overs.

Skipper Nathan Dumelow enjoyed himself with a fluent 171, the league’s highest innings of the season. He came in at 10-3 and put on 212 for the fourth wicket with the ever-improving Rick Moore (74). Alderley Edge held out comfortably at 220-7 (Guy Emmett 4-50).

In Division Two, OAKMERE’S battle to survive the drop continued on Saturday as the Overdale Lane side settled for a marginal winning draw from their clash with relegation rivals Burnage.

Bowling first, Craig Phelan was the hosts’ main threat as he took 3-41 in Burnage’s less-than-convincing total of 169-9. In reply Oakmere fell just short with 154-9 (Paul Yearsley 41).