MALPAS'S title hopes in the first division slipped a little when they were held to a draw by Davenham.

The visitors settled for 170-8 with Dave Hunt taking 3-47 and Simon Bradley 2-10. In reply, Malpas reached 142-7, Peter Baker undefeated on 48 and Hunt adding 30.

The seconds sent Holmes Chapel back for 100 (Dave Parry 5-31) before scrambling home by one wicket, Mark Humphreys hitting 43 and Richie McWilliams 24.

Malpas reached the quarter-finals of the Cheshire Shield on Sunday with victory over Winsford. Jonny Suckley top-scored with 53 and Hunt added 41 as Malpas scored 137-5 before restricting Winsford to 120-9 (Robbie McWilliams 4-31, Richard Pawson 3-31). Alvanley continue to prop up the table after grinding out a draw at neighbours Runcorn, who crawled to 68-2 off 30 overs before moving on to 136ao with Peter Pearce claiming 5-39 off 16 overs.

Alvanley's response started tentatively. Ian Charles chopped a delivery on to his stumps in the fourth over so Glenn Pickersgill and John Farmer tried to establish a platform.

It didn't happen as Alvanley collapsed to 19-5 of 23 overs and it needed a valiant rearguard effort to see Alvanley through the game to finish on 43-8, Pearce ending on 15no.

Alvanley seconds batted first at home to Knutsford and Reg Haslam anchored the innings with 76 as he partnered Colin Gee (42) for an opening stand of 90 and then put on 68 for the second wicket with teenager Nick Geddes (25).

Mike Sant added 20 to allow Alvanley to declare at 202-5 after 44 overs.

The Alvanley bowlers proved much too good for the Knutsford batsmen. Peter French claimed 4-37, Robbie Roan 2-37, Chris Jones 2-15 and Javed Qaiar 2-1 as the visitors were demolished for 92 in 33 overs.

Barrow forced an exciting six-wickets victory at home to newly-promoted Wirral to maintain their promotion hopes from Division Two.

They were pleased to offer Wirral the chance to bat first, even though the wicket looked flat and ideal for batting.

The Wirral openers got off to a flier, dispatching loose deliveries to the boundary. Despite a promising spell of bowling from 16-year-old Phil Johnson, the Wirral run feast was still gathering momentum at 92-1 off only 18 overs.

At this point, the introduction of the Barrow spin twins Chris Cowell and Phil Noble began to have an impact. With the run rate slowing, wickets began to fall, initially to Noble.

The Wirral target of 250 began to change, although 201 was reached in the last over, before the last wicket fell, Cowell and Noble claiming four wickets each.

Openers Matt Harman and Mal Barrow batted sensibly to see off the threat of the new ball, along with accumulating runs. Barrow was first to be dismissed for 38, from an 83-run opening partnership, and Harman was the next wicket to fall for a cultured 62.

At this point, Barrow had reached 124 and the game was still in the balance. The attacking play of the Barrow middle order totally dominated the match and the in-form Lee Dwyer and Gareth Pawlett played a selection of classy shots. With Dwyer being dismissed for 43, John Williams strolled to the crease to complete the proceedings with a quickfire innings of 19no and five overs still left to bat.

With Pawlett 34no, Barrow reached 203-4 to collect 25 points.

Cholmondeley did well to post 227-8 at Lindow with Simon Fletcher hitting 46, Rob Bettany 62no and Simon Gardiner 35, but they couldn't get through the hosts' batting in reply.

Lindow were not allowed to settle and lost three wickets for 30 in the opening 10 overs, Rich Cooke restricting them to two an over off his 12 overs.

Cholmondeley were unable to dislodge the final batsmen so the rarely-used bowling attack of Mark Jones and Gardiner was called to tempt the opposition into hitting out to achieve more batting points.

This had some success with Gardiner taking a wicket off the last ball to leave Lindow 137-8.

Cholmondeley seconds played second-placed Ashley, who scored 145ao, and Cholmondeley in reply scored 106-6.