OULTON Park were on the receiving end of a stunning partnership worth almost 300 runs on Saturday but still emerged with a draw.

Amazingly, Park still had one eye on winning their match at Nantwich when rain brought an early halt to proceedings.

The hosts batted first and a partnership of 292 between Jonny Kettle (107no) and Aussie Glen Batticciotto (176no) propelled the Dabbers to 317-1dec from 50 overs.

The stand was narrowly short of the County League record for any partnership, set in 2007 when an Urmston pair made an unbroken 297 against Toft.

Batticciotto made use of a flat batting wicket, hitting the ball to all parts of the ground, while Kettle played a supporting role in his first game against his former club.

The visitors’ reply started well, with Rick Moore and Danny Leech bringing up 56 before Moore (40) was caught off the bowling of spinner Ben Mogg.Š Leech (15) was run out soon after, leaving Oulton Park on 59-2.

Nick James (27) and Louis Bentley (60) steadied the ship and Oulton continued to make inroads.

They had reached 210-4 when rain stopped play with 17 overs remaining, former Northwich player Martyn East ending with a half-century.

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Jack Smith hit a magnificent 111no to inspire NESTON to a five-wicket win against Didsbury at Parkgate.

Didsbury declared on 233-9, Jordan Free claiming 5-43. But the total proved no problem for Neston, who were home and dry with 12 overs to spare thanks to Smith.

In Division One, CHRISTLETON produced their best performance of the season to lower Irby’s colours for the first time.

Hosts Irby were bowled out for 152 (Iroshan de Silva 4-56). Christleton passed the total for the loss of five wickets (Iftikhar Naseer 41, Jamie Creek 41, de Silva 36no).

In Division Two, MALPAS drew with Stockport, who batted first and made 234-4. Phil Johnson (2-57) and Adrian Stubbs (1-33), with David Hunt running out the other.

The Malpas innings was interrupted by rain three times and eventually abandoned. Keith Rickett top scored with 37.

TATTENHALL gained an excellent 20-point win at home to promoted Stockport.

Winning the toss and inserting the visitors, Tattenhall sparked a colossal collapse with some excellent bowling. Tom Hyslop (4-11), Andy Morris (3-19) and Rob Mulvihill (3-17) inflicted the damage as Stockport were all out for 65.

In reply, Tattenhall appeared to be making light work of the chase – before a mini-collapse of their own threatened to put the result in doubt. But Barry Mitchell (14no) and Ian Richards (15no) saw them home to a winning 66-4.