ALVANLEY closed the gap on Cholmondeley at the top of Division Two after picking up 25 points on a soft, damp pitch at Bowdon Vale.

Visiting openers Mark Szymura and Nick McKay settled quickly and when McKay savaged Roylance for two sixes and a four in one over, they looked to be on target to set a run feast.

The partnership ended on 43 when Szymura was bowled for 13 in the 12th over. Phil Jones helped McKay continue to set the foundation for a good score before being caught for 12.

Enter Cei Sanderson who launched into the Vale bowlers with McKay, who complemented classic drives to the boundary with lots of simple twos and singles.

The pair's contribution enabled Alvanley to declare at 203-5 off just 39 overs, with 68 runs coming off the last eight overs with Fletcher 31no.

Ian Broady and Mark Leadbetter bowled economically with the new ball and then change bowlers Phil Jones (1-4) and Peter Pearce (5-7) totally shackled Bowdon.

Broady had too much pace for the tail-enders, picking up the last two wickets as the hosts were dismissed for just 68.

Malpas moved up to sixth in the Division One table with a home victory over Barrow.

The visitors struggled to come to terms with the rain-affected wicket and were bowled out for 91, Dave Hunt (5-31) and Neil Tong (5-32) doing the damage.

Malpas adapted better to the conditions, knocking off the required runs for the loss of only one wicket.

Jack Scascighini led the scoring with 47 while Johnny Suckley saw Malpas home with an unbeaten 37.

Scascighini and Suckley join Malpas team-mates Tong and Keith Ricketts in the Cheshire League side for Sunday's match against the Derbyshire and Cheshire League at Marple. nIn Division Three, Castrol cruised to a 36-run win over relegation-haunted Offerton CC - and it was a victory paid for in blood, literally.

For Castrol's Keith Garratt took a ball on the nose which bled profusely before being staunched, enabling him to continue the game.

Garratt ended up claiming the man-of-the-match honours after hitting 29 runs and taking four catches - all with a broken nose!