IT was a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’ for Chester County Officers on Saturday as they suffered a three-wicket home loss to Alderley Park.

Buzzing after their opening-game Division Three victory, Mike Rowlands’ side were brought back down to earth.

CCO built a solid platform of 75-3 that looked to be a launching pad for a good score, but the introduction of Stu Burnell changed all that.

The spinner’s six-wicket haul saw the last seven wickets fall for just nine runs as the hosts were skittled for 84.

CCO’s bowlers put up a better fight, with captain Rowlands snaffling 4-18, but sensible batting saw Alderley reach 85-7.

BUNBURY tasted their first defeat of the campaign as they went down to unbeaten Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge, who stopped the visitors 61 runs short on 90 after totalling 151.

ALVANLEY got off the mark in Division One with a thrilling two-wicket home win over Davenham.

New-ball pairing Chris Charles (2-15) and Nick Geddis got Andy Bennion’s boys off to the perfect start before Davenham fought back through Chris Hornby.

But once Rob Fisher (4-29) produced a beauty to remove the dangerman, the match swung back in Alvanley’s favour with Dave Shewring (4-49) ensuring the Northwich outfit were polished off for 133.

On a wicket that was batsman-friendly this was a below-par total. It was a surprise, therefore, to find the home team 0-2 in the first over with last week’s centurion Bennion and Jim Ackerley back in the shed.

Alvanley needed a hero and it came in the shape of Glenn Pickergill, whose 83 for the seconds seven days earlier earned him a first-team recall for the first time in two years.

Pickergill shared a match-winning stand of 65 with Ben Pearce before a thunderous six from chairman Chris Fletcher hauled Alvanley over the winning line to 137-8.

MALPAS were beaten by four wickets at Northwich, who made it to 112-6 in response to 111 (Tony Crab 39, Keith Rickett 31), while OAKMERE drew at home to Stockport, who hit 215-4 (Peter Hutchinson 4-80) and then kept the reply down to 128-8 (Ian Eaton 48).

KINGSLEY are still waiting for their first Division Two win of the season after they drew at Barnton.

Peter Pearce (6-30) starred with the ball for Kingsley, who got as far as 150-9 (Edward Leneghan 46, Kieron Ollier 41) following 164.

CHOLMONDELEY enjoyed a narrow victory at home to BARROW, who fell 11 short on 96 having been set 107.