ALVANLEY lifted themselves up to fourth in Division One – just 14 points away from the promotion places – with a 37-run victory over Oakmere on Saturday.
Opting to bat first on a bone dry home wicket, Alvanley’s progress was far from smooth as 24-2 turned into 84-5. But Glenn Pickersgill and Nick Geddis did a fine repair job, taking the score to 123 before Geddis departed for 21. Pickersgill top-scored with a season’s best 54 as Alvanley finished on 173-7dec (Peter Hutchinson 4-43).
Oakmere’s reply was frantic. The ball was flayed around by their top order but Alvanley’s perseverance paid off and Robin Fisher, bowling with great control and exacting considerable turn, bagged a superb 6-14.
Geddis and Chris Charles finished with two wickets apiece as Oakmere fell short on 136ao.
Alvanley’s promotion rivals MALPAS lost an exciting home game with Weaverham, who batted first and posted 139ao (Adrian Stubbs 3-32). In reply, Malpas were 127ao, Maneesha Appuhamilage their top scorer with 26.
In Division Two, KINGSLEY recovered from 35-4 to claim maximum batting points, but a final score of 182ao wasn’t enough to prevent visitors CHOLMONDELEY from romping to a seven-wicket win. The home team’s fightback was led first by Kieron Ollier (24), and then Travis Martin (29) and Alex Wilson (51), who scored his maiden half century for the first team. Replying to 182ao, Chum reached 183-3.
Basement team BARROW lost at Lindow, being bowled out for 167 replying to 239-6dec.
In Division Three, CHESTER COUNTY OFFICERS maintained their drive for promotion with a home win over bottom team Wirral.
The game produced an intense finale, with all results possible in the final over.
Chester had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss on a baking hot day.
Skipper Mike Rowlands and Ian Rule piled on the runs, forming an opening partnership of 183 in 34 overs before Rowlands departed for 102. Rule (85no) then stepped up a notch with Chris Wright (26no) as they took the score to 238-1dec.
Wirral made Chester sweat for the win and their gutsy reply left them needing 11 runs to win off the final over with one wicket left. The first ball of the over resulted in a two but Rowlands (6-86) bagged a wicket with his second, Chris Wright taking a good catch, to leave Wirral all out for 230.
BUNBURY (264-7dec) beat visitors Stretton (211ao).
Alvanley (208-3) reached the league’s Twenty20 Knockout Trophy quarter-finals last Thursday with a win over Kingsley (123-8).
