CHESHIRE’S charge for the MCCA Championship Western Division title suffered a setback at Nantwich CC.

Visitors Devon left with a 54-run victory, despite Dan Berry’s magnificent score of 111 in the first innings.

Devon posted scores of 420-6 and 221, which was too good for Cheshire (320 and 267), whose next match is against Shropshire CC at Alderley Edge (August 15-17).

Cheshire suffered a largely self-inflicted demise in Division Two of the ECB Women’s County Championship.

They slumped to defeat away to Middlesex after giving away a large number of wickets to either poor shots or bad run-outs.

Middlesex batted first and made 206-5 (Kate Harvey 2-38).

But in reply Cheshire collapsed from a good start at 35-0 to 99-8 (Hannah Gradwell 35).

Emma Barlow (25no) and Kate Skelhorn (34no) at least salvaged some pride by adding 51 in eight overs for Cheshire’s ninth wicket as they finished with 150-8.

In the Cheshire Women’s League, Oakmere moved into second place in Division One, 20 points behind leaders Appleton, after comprehensively beating Chester Boughton Hall.

Helen Wardlaw (47no), Hayley Agnew (45) and Jemma Bentley (45) all continued their consistent run of form in Oakmere’s total of 232-4. Despite an unbeaten 55 from Sal Cowap, Chester closed well short on 144-7.