CHESTER County Officers maintained their Division Three promotion charge on Saturday with a four-wicket win at Pott Shrigley.

Mike Rowlands’ men went down by nine wickets at the same venue last season so they were keen to erase that memory with a third victory of the campaign. And, courtesy of an excellent team performance, they did exactly that.

CCO have lost the services of Vamshidhar ‘Vamshi’ Parvathaneni, but Mike Clarke (4-61) more than made up for the paceman’s absence by producing a magnificent 23-over spell of swing bowling as Pott were polished off for 170.

In-form captain Rowlands (4-64) and Ian Rule (2-38) also got in on the act for the visitors, who then batted sensibly to reach 171-6.

Rowlands (27) and Mike Pownall (23) shared a first-wicket stand of 77 aided by 27 extras before Chris Wright (40no) saw CCO home.

BUNBURY were beaten by three wickets at home by Sandbach, who made it to 152-7 having been set 149.

OAKMERE’S Division One rise continued on Saturday as they romped to a six-wicket success at Mere.

The Overdale Lane side struggled early on in the season following their relegation from the Cheshire County League, but they are now showing their class and they had no problem in chasing down Mere’s 181-7 (Henry Sanderson 3-56) total.

Ian Eaton, with a blistering 73 off 72 balls, and Craig Phelan (49) were the home team’s tormentors in chief as Oakmere raced to 182-4.

ALVANLEY’S three-match winning run came to an end as they were thrashed by Winnington Park, who declared on 197-6 and then halted their visitors some 102 off that target on 95.

MALPAS returned to winning ways with a nine-wicket stroll at Trafford MV.

Maneesha Appuhamilage (3-29) and Mark Goldsmith (3-48) shared the wickets as the hosts were restricted to 167-8 before Appuhamilage (40no) played the supporting role to man-of-the match Keith Rickett (102no), who saw Malpas to 168-1.

KINGSLEY lost a high-scoring Division Two encounter at home to Lindow on Saturday.

The Croft outfit would have been confident after posting 203-4dec (Kieron Ollier 72no, Mark Butcher 53), but Lindow were in just as good touch as they responded with 204-3.

Title-challenging CHOLMONDELEY were 24-run winners at home to Winsford, who fell for 188 in reply to 212-8dec, but there was defeat for BARROW at home to Over Peover, who declared on 133-8 and then tore the rock-bottom hosts apart for 41.