CHESTER County Officers just lost out in another enthralling Alliance match at Kingsley as their promotion prospects suffered a setback.

Skipper Steve Johnson won the toss at last, and, seduced by the balmy weather, elected to bat first. But it was soon apparent that this was no ordinary wicket as the ball swung, seamed and bounced disconcertingly.

No batsman could make anything of the conditions, although makeshift opener Steve Jackson battled manfully for 18 in 26 overs. Johnson, 12, Andy Barlow, 14, and Alan Smith made it to double figures as the innings closed at a paltry 79. Adrian Burden did the most damage with 5-23 in 16 overs.

Kingsley knew it would be tough and were soon reduced to 4-3 as Johnson, twice, and Andy Barlow disturbed the stumps. A brilliant run-out by Alan Smith took the score to 10-4 in the seventh over.

A tea-time rolling calmed the wicket and the extravagant bounce had gone. Kingsley limped along with Matt Ollier digging in. John Gilbody got into the groove and picked off three wickets as Kingsley wobbled at 56-7. Another great run-out by a long throw from Mike Rowlands to dismiss Matt Ollier for 32 put Officers in the driving seat at 66-8.

Burden was content to scrape the odd single but then, with 10 needed, had a rush of blood and skied a pull to fine leg. The chance was not accepted and scurried singles brought the total ever closer. Burden left the field a hero with 14no to go with his earlier wickets.

Tight bowling was the order of the day as Johnson ended his 13 overs with 2-18, Andy Barlow 1-16 off 12 and Gilbody 3-21 off 15.

The second string had a convincing win at home to Kingsley. Skipper Alan Roberts (26) was backed up by Phil Tomlinson (65) and good contributions by Darren Griffiths (24), Chris Wright and Phil Bunnell (17) in a total of 181.

The deadly duo of Graham Wilks (6-33) and Darren Griffiths (4-36) was enough to see off Kingsley and secure another 25 points, to keep challenging Northwich at the top.

Saughall came out second best in a last-ball thriller against Rostherne, although they will once again reflect on another winning position that they were unable to capitalise on.

Despite losing James Huxley first ball of the day, they raced to 114-2 with some expansive stroke play from in-form batsmen Ben Salisbury (59) and Andy Thomas (36).

Their dismissals signalled a disappointing collapse in which the last eight wickets tumbled for just 26 runs as Saughall posted a below-par total of 140.

With several key bowlers missing, Huxley took the new ball and when he struck twice in his fifth over, Saughall had got the start they wanted.

Rostherne lost wickets steadily but runs continued to flow with some adventurous shots. And with three wickets in hand, any result looked possible heading into the final overs of the match.

When Mike Rowson took a superhuman diving catch at deep mid-wicket, the pendulum swung Saughall's way. But a couple of boundaries in the penultimate over meant that the visiting team needed nine runs off the final six balls.

Several scrambled twos and singles later, it boiled down to the last ball with two runs required. Humphries (23), who was dropped on one, then hit the first six of his career, over long off, as Rostherne won a thrilling encounter.

The previous day, Saughall returned from their annual tour of Holland with Economists CC. Once again the Saughall play-ers featured prominently, with Ben Salisbury picking up the batsman-of-the-tour award for good knocks in Amsterdam and Haarlem.

Andy Thomas scored his first 50 on foreign soil, to see the team home in the Hague, while Chris Andrews scored 89 at the picturesque ground in Deventer.

Division Two leaders Bunbury (187-9) beat Disley by 15 runs and Frodsham crashed at home by three wickets by Hartford.