AFTER their victory at Bramhall in the Murray Smith Cheshire County League Premiership 24 hours earlier, Oxton completed a successful weekend by reaching the semi-finals of the Quinn Thomas Cheshire Cup at Bredbury St. Mark's.

Playing more confident cricket in recent weeks, Nick Corran's Oxton continued their good run in the competition by dismissing their Pennine hosts for 159 (Andy Allen 3-17) and then replying with a vigorous 161-3.

Leading the batting was back to form left-hander Peter Benson with 75 and an unbeaten 59 by Marc Debrandender, celebrating his call-up for Cheshire's Under 21 team against Staffordshire on Thursday.

In the semi-final Oxton will visit Toft, who figured in a spectacularly high-scoring game against Alderley Edge at Booth's Park.

With 117 from Simon Hardstaff and 61 by skipper Nigel Muirhead, Toft posted what looked an unbeatable 269-4 off their 45 overs. But Alderley replied at a rate of seven an over until they reached 200-3, then went into decline after Alan Day was out for 71. Lancashire batsman Mark Currie was then out for 109 and Alderley closed at 266-9, losing by three runs.

Favourites Bowdon won by 78 runs at Didsbury after scoring 220-8 (Steven Ball 48, Anthony Crozier 46). Didsbury were bowled out for 142, part-time bowler Jon Bean taking 3-8 and Dominic Ball 3-16. Bowdon visit the winners of the game between Hyde and Alsager, who meet next Sunday.

CHESHIRE lost their second successive ECB Under 21 championship group game at Repton School against Derbyshire by five wickets last Thursday and cannot now qualify for the quarter-finals.

SCORES: Cheshire 166 (James Duffy 64); Derbyshire 167-5 (Adam Wildigg 2-8).

Cheshire have two further group games, against Staffs at Leek on Thursday, July 31, and against Warwickshire at Alderley Edge on Thursday, August 7.

Team to meet Staffordshire at Leek: Richard Hignett captain (Bootle), Paul Allen (Winnington Park), Adam Carolan (Toft), Alan Day, Adam Wildig (Alderley Edge), James Duffy (Hyde), Martyn Evans (New Brighton), Marc DeBrabender (Oxton), Matt Griffiths (Chester BH), Ian Tait (Macclesfield), Ian Spencer (Widnes).

THERE were three Cheshire boys playing in the Bunbury/ESCA Under 15s Festival at Shrewsbury School last week. They were James McCoy (Grappenhall), Danny Woods (Cheadle Hulme) and Danny Berry (Hyde), who is at the Lancashire & Cheshire Academy at Old Trafford. David Hurst (Neston) has been chosen for the North of England Under 13s squad.

CHESHIRE UNDER 17S RESULTS:

v Derbyshire at Hyde: Derbyshire 362 (Danny Berry 3-74); Chesh-ire 126-6 (Ray Doyle 49). Abandoned as draw. v Shropshire at Chester Boughton Hall: Shropshire 294 (Warren Goodwin 3-47, Andy Wilgose 4-61) and 70-5 (Lee Dixon 4-39); Cheshire 167 (Goodwin 35). Shropshire won on first innings.

CHESHIRE UNDER 19S RESULTS:

v Lancashire at Brooklands: Lancashire 201-8 (Chris Pilkington 4-40, Alan Day 2-13); Cheshire 196-6 (Matt Griffiths 51, Adam Wildigg 36no, Chris Stenhouse 25no). Cheshire lost by 5 runs.

Cheshire team against Shropshire at Wem on Wednesday, July 30 (11 a.m.): Matthew Griffiths captain, David Shewring (Chester BH), Chris Pilkington (Hyde), Adam Wildig, Simon Elliott (Alderley Edge), Martyn Evans (New Brighton), David Leech (Winnington Park), David Madden (Brooklands), Craig Melrose (Macclesfield), Chris Stenhouse (Birkenhead Park), Adam Wilde (Cheadle Hulme).

THE Cheshire County League will be captained by Nantwich's Andy Newton when they meet the visiting Bahamas Cricket Association at Nantwich on Thursday, August 7 (1.30 p.m.).