HYDE rattled up the highest score of the summer in the Quinn Thomas Cheshire Cricket Knock- out Cup when they amassed 304-6 in a quarter-final victory over Alsager at Werneth Low.

A large crowd on a sunny day thrilled to a partnership of 174 for the second wicket between skipper John Ashley (116 not out) and Dave Fitzsimmons (103). Between them the pair hit - or cleared - the boundary fence 34 times.

Luckless Alsager, without four regular first teamers, were all out for 92, of which Paul Adams scored 42, while Cheshire off-spinner Robert Brierley took 5-38 and former India one day international all-rounder Rudra Singh 3-3.

Hyde host competition favourites Bowdon at home in the semi-final on Sunday, August 17, while Toft meet Oxton at Booth's Park the same day.

HOLDERS Bowdon are involved in the Murray Smith Cheshire County League Fred Graham Trophy quarter-finals on Sunday when they host Nantwich. Other ties are: Winnington Park v Alderley Edge; Oulton Park v Widnes; Bred-bury St. Mark's v Chester Boughton Hall. HYDE have lost the toss for the right to stage the final of the Cheshire County League's Taylor Insurances 2nd XI Trophy on August 17. They will be away against Toft or Neston, who meet on Sunday.

NANTWICH beat tournament favourites and 2002 runners-up Hyde in the second round of the Cheshire Under-21s Cup last Friday. The remaining games are: Romiley v Oxton; New Brighton or Chester Boughton Hall v Warrington or Wallasey; Timperley or Birkenhead Park v Compstall or Birkenhead St. Mary's.

ON a short tour of the UK, the Bahamas Cricket Association meet a Cheshire County League XI in a representative match Nantwich on Thursday (1.30pm). The League team is:

Andy Newton captain, Jeff Maynard, Ray Doyle, Barrington Browne (Nantwich), Greg Newton (Cheadle Hulme), Craig Melrose, Ian Tate (Macclesfield), Chris Grindley (Urmston), Rob Porter (Congleton), Alex Kegg (Chester Boughton Hall), James McCoy (Grappenhall). 12th man: Guy Emmett (Bowdon).

THE Cheshire County League Over-40s section championship will be resolved tomorrow when top teams Toft and Chester Boughton Hall meet at Filkins Lane in the final fixture (6.15pm). Chester, winners of the title for the past two years, need to inflict the first defeat on Toft if they are to make it a hat-trick.

WHEN Bredbury St Mark's beat Sale on Sunday in the County League's 3rd XI Division Three, Vicky Downes, aged 16, one of a handful of female players in Cheshire cricket, took 4-0 including a hat-trick, to help her side win by eight wickets, Sale being bowled out for 37.

Vicky, daughter of Bredbury secretary David Downes, plays for Cheshire Ladies.

CHESHIRE'S third ECB Under-21 championship match against Staffordshire at Leek on Thursday last week was cancelled due to the ground being water-logged. Cheshire complete their programme against Warwick-shire at Alderley Edge on Thursday. The game begins at 11am.