DAVENHAM lost to leaders Burnage and their promotion hopes look slim indeed.

They scored 187-5 after Alan Wright (33) and Rob Harrison (57) put on 78 for the first wickets. However, tight bowling restricted them to fewer than four per over, Dave Holden making an unbeaten 50.

After a shaky start, Burnage raced to 192-1 in just 36 overs.

It was a batsman's pitch at Butcher's Stile and nearly 500 runs were amassed by Old Parkonians 2nds 268-5 and Davenham 2nds 226-4 (Tom Argent 53no Danny Fleming 51no).

OAKMERE scored a 33-run victory at Cholmondeley in Division Two.

Openers Chris Leech (50) and Paul Yearsley (20) got them off to a good start and a breezy 21 by Jon Owen late on lifted them to 175-8.

Peter Hutchinson took 4-36 but the hero was Craig Pheland who ripped out three wickets for seven runs as Cholomondeley looked poised for victory.

A classy 17 from 13-year-old debutant Nick Ball proved the winning innings for Oakmere 2nds at Mere, who had scored 148-5. Ian Morgan (38) and Peter Jones (37) led the reply, Ball seeing them to 151-5.

Oakmere Ladies suffered their first defeat, making 77-4 (Jane Tarpey 35, Shami Ahmed 20) only to lose heavily to Christleton 80-0.

WINSFORD made 183-8 dec but were overhauled at Lindow, 185-8.

They were put in to bat and the impressive scores of Mike Clarke (51), Rob Brumby (37) and Dave Tierney (29) earned Winsford maximum batting points.

After tea, Winsford took an early wicket from Mark Dean (1-16). But Lindow batted themselves steadily into the frame and were too much for Winsford, though James Tier-ney (5-65) was impressive.

James Bland top scored with 26 and Winsford 2nds were all out for 95 against Ashley, who escaped a couple of dropped catches to win at 96-2 (Andrew Johnson 2-9).

BARNTON batted first and pulled off a good win on their first visit to Parkside.

Darren Falland (40), Christian Watkins (38) and Paul Coot (32) carried Barnton to 180-6, but Matt Morley fell into a devastating rhythm. He started the wickets falling and cashed in again at the end for 8-53, Parkside being all out for 148.