CASTROL sit at the top of the Cheshire Alliance after Saturday's success over a Sandbach side relegated from the Mellor Braggins League last season.

Captain Mark Evans said: 'We were a bit flat during Sandbach's innings and on another day we might have been made to pay more severely. We've given ourselves every opportunity with this start to the season to finally push for promotion, but we must raise our game every week if we do want the successes.'

Evans won the toss and chose to bat but fellow opener Steve Flanagan (0) was trapped lbw by J Oddie (2-39), while in the next over, Martin Flanagan (2) was also adjudged lbw off Shallcross (3-77). Hutchinson joined his skipper, and the pair started to repair some of the damage, adding 80 before Hutchinson (11) was bowled by Oddie.

Darren Green (28) and Evans (73) added 45 before the captain was bowled by Shallcross.

Green followed with the score on 142, holing out to square leg with a mishit pull shot while Andy Walters (0) was bowled first ball by Fox (2-41).

Garratt (38no) and King (29) then proceeded to smash the ball to all parts of the ground and in the space off just 39 deliveries had added 59 runs.

King also got his season under way and also smashed his mandatory six to the leg-side boundary.

King tried one shot too many and was bowled by Fox, leaving Mike Piercy (0no) to keep Garratt off strike.

The declaration came at the end of the 44th over with the score on 210-7.

Sandbach's openers Williams (27) and Metcalf (1) added just nine when Damian Walters (3-40) ripped through the latter, sending the middle stump tumbling.

Latham (24) played some exquisite shots backed up with some good oldfashioned slogs from Williams.

Williams then appeared to edge one to the keeper but with the fielding side all rushing to congratulate MoM Piercy, the batsman stood his ground and the umpire gave him not out.

This only served to fire up Walters and, in the next over, he castled Williams with a beauty. Piercy (4-40) had bowled a great spell with very little luck, but his reward came when he dismissed the dangerous-looking Latham with the assistance of a catch by Martin Flanagan.

Four balls later, Piercy accounted for Moss (0) and was aided by a good running catch by Aldcroft. Oddie (0) then bizarrely went walkabout and was promptly stumped by Andy Walters, giving Piercy his third wicket.

Sandbach had gone from 57-1 to 77-5 in the space of just 12 deliveries and Castrol could smell victory.

Tomlinson (56) and Wathley (13) had other ideas before the introduction of Garratt (2-24) accounted for the latter, while Martin Flanagan completed his second catch to dismiss Fox (0).

Kenrick (17) and Tomlinson had moved the score on to 146, before the latter was deceived by a delivery from Aldcroft and lobbed a catch to the evergreen Piercy.

But with the tail threatening to wag, Piercy promptly bowled Kenrick with an unplayable ball before Walters bowled Shallcross (0) to close Sandbach's innings on 168.

Castrol took 25 points, Sandbach 7. Matchballs sponsored by Frank McLeod's Driveways & Patios and Rod's Green Cutters, Garden Maintenance.

Will readers please note that last week's picture of Castrol chairman Mike Buckley receiving matchballs was with Ronnie O'Donovan of Rod's Green Cutters, not Frank McLeod's Driveways and Patios.

Castrol received a bye in the Knockout Cup when Disley were unable to raise a team on Sunday. The Oilmen travel to Langley on Saturday (players to meet at 12.15pm), team as follows - Mike Garvey (captain), Andy Walters, Damian Walters, Martin Flanagan, Steve Flanagan, John Ball, John Taliano, Tony King, Chris Hutchinson, Darren Green, Steve Ald-croft.