NANTWICH batsman Jeff Maynard hit an unbeaten half-century as the Cheshire County League reached the third round of the President's Trophy on Sunday.

On a perfect track at Chester Boughton Hall, Maynard hit 56no in the County League's mammoth score of 294-5 against the North Staffs and District League.

But once Oulton batsman Dave Proffitt got going after tea, the total looked far from safe.

Prospering from being dropped several times, he hit five sixes and 13 fours in a powerful 169 before being well caught on the boundary ropes by Matt Cornes (Toft), with the visitors on 265-5 needing 30 off the last three overs. As it was, the innings declined to 273-6 but it could have been different had Proffitt stayed.

The County League now visit the Liverpool Competition in round three at Southport on Sunday, July 25.