Cricket: Chester Boughton Hall held to a draw despite Warren Goodwin ton

CHESTER Boughton Hall saw their lead at the top of the Premier Division cut to two points as the season reached its halfway mark on Saturday.

With title rivals Nantwich and Hyde both enjoying victories, Boughton Hall had to settle for a winning draw from a high-scoring contest with NESTON at Filkins Lane.

Opting to bat first on a flat pitch, Warren Goodwin and Steve Ogilby put Chester in control with a fine opening stand of 119.

Ogilby was first to go for 57 but the prolific Goodwin closed on 149no, Jordan Clark (41) and Daron Cruickshank (31no) playing a supporting role as the home side declared on 303-3.

In reply, Neston’s prolific Aussie opener Jack Smith (64) got the visitors off to a flying start before being caught at slip by Ed Roberts.

Young leg-spinner Jack Williams bowled superbly for his 5-61 but Neston were in defiant form and finished on 285-9 off their 60 overs.

OULTON PARK had no answer to Hyde, who are now breathing down Boughton Hall’s neck at the summit.

Oulton batted first and were soon 37-3. Nick James (82) blasted nine fours and five sixes but wickets fell at regular intervals and Park were all out for 184.

Hyde made it home with 30 overs to spare, finishing with 185-4.

In Division One, CHRISTLETON put a dent in Widnes’ promotion bid by scoring a fine eight-wicket victory over the Halton side.

Widnes rattled up 243-7 (Narender Negi 96, Ben Williams 57) but Christleton were more than up to the challenge. Propelled by Ifti Naseer (90) and Iroshan de Silva (78), they reached 244-2.

In Division Two, TATTENHALL were left frustrated as they failed to take Congleton’s last wicket in a draw at the Flacca.

With the hosts batting first, opener John Hope fell one run short of his half-century

Tom Hyslop (48) helped Tattenhall achieve maximum batting points and a run-a-ball 20 from Rob Mulvihill carried them to 237-7dec.

New-boy Baz Street returned figures of 3-36 and Mulvihill (4-59) removed Congleton’s lower middle-order.

But the visitors held out for the draw, finishing on 175-9.

There was an unbeaten century from club chairman Jon Suckley as MALPAS drew at home to Warrington.

The visitors batted first and talented Aussie Andrew Martel scored 107 before the declaration came at 251-7. Suckley then made 121no as Malpas reached 211-8.