MALPAS stole a march over Alvanley on Saturday with an away win over their Division One promotion rivals.

The two sides fought out an exciting contest and the win for Malpas saw them leapfrog their hosts in the table from fifth to third.

Andy Bennion (89) and Chris Jones (26) posted an opening stand of 85 for Alvanley, who finished on an excellent 211-9 (Nick Geddis 29no).

What should have been a winning score for Alvanley was turned into a losing one by the fluency of the Malpas batting unit, who answered with 214-6. Cameron Park lead the way with 79 from 81 balls.

OAKMERE lost out at home to struggling Davenham, who skittled out the hosts for 172 (Paul Yearsley 34). The away side hit back with 175-6 (Thomas Pilling 2-23, Michael Cushion 2-24).

In Division Two, basement side BARROW chalked up a home win over Aston.

The hosts piled on the runs, with Marlon Barclay scoring an unbeaten 140.

Having accumulated a season’s best of 238-8, opening bowlers Mal Barrow and Phil Johnson set about their task, Johnson finishing with 4-61 as Aston were all out for 114.

CHOLMONDELEY (236-7) drew at the home of promotion rivals Prestbury (278-5dec), while KINGSLEY suffered another loss, this time away to high flyers Lymm.

The visitors mustered only 131, Travis Martin (34) and Mark Butcher (32) their main scorers. With little pressure on the Lymm batsmen, they cruised to 135-2 (Peter Pearce 2-33).

In Division Three, promotion hunting BUNBURY got back to winning ways with an emphatic success at Pott Shrigley.

Asked to field first, Bunbury were quickly in business as Owen Williamson (5-51) ripped out the top order, capturing four wickets in his opening spell. Rob Williams (4-27) also shone as the hosts were all out for 133.

In reply, openers Nick Swintbank (42no) and Frankie Farrington (77no) cruised to 136-0.

CHESTER COUNTY OFFICERS’ promotion push suffered a setback as they lost by three wickets at home to lowly Old Parkonians.

Chester opted to bat first but their innings never got the impetus it needed after a promising start and they limped painfully to 173-8 off 45 overs (Mike Rowlands 55). In reply, a scampered single off the penultimate ball of the match saw Parks home to 174-7 (Rowlands 3-58).

Alvanley marched into the league’s Twenty20 Cup semi-finals after beating Weaverham in a thriller that went down to the last ball.

The semi final is at Northwich next Thursday.