WINNINGTON Park registered their first win of the season in a First Division nail-biter at Upton.
With five overs remaining, Upton needed just 16 runs for victory and Winnington two wickets to grab the glory for themselves.
Cold, wet and windy was the weather and bleak were Winnington's prospects as the new opening partnership of Aidan Baker and Jim Piling did not last long and James Lewis, Paul Sinclair and Mike Johns all went cheaply.
At 70-7, the skipper Stuart Hayes went into bat and looked to change the game.
Hayes went on to score a massively important 39, which included two huge sixes and three fours. He was also helped by Dave Hine who scored 22 and Martin Evans.
Winnington finished on 125 all out from 55 overs, which gave them something to defend and only gave Upton 45 overs to get the runs.
After tea, Winnington knew they had to keep the bowling tight and not give away easy runs, and that is exactly what they did.
James Cowell and Bryan Shingler bowled brilliantly in the opening 12 overs to restrict Upton to 16-1, with Shingler taking the vital wicket of Nick Rivett for only three. Shingler, who had bowled into the strong wind, finished his spell with figures of six overs, five maidens, 1-4.
Cowell continued to bowl tightly from the other end, but it was the introduction of the skipper that led to the next breakthrough. He took two quick wickets to leave Upton 43-3 after 22 overs.
It was at this point Cowell came to the fore and took his first wicket in his 15th over. Upton were struggling to chase the small target and spinner Bhardwa took two more wickets. Cowell claimed further wickets in his 19th and 20th overs, leaving Upton eight down for 110 with either side able to win.
But this was Cowell's day and, in his 21st over, he picked up his fourth wicket with a great catch from Sinclair and then, with the final ball of that over, caught the dangerous Gary Dixon from his own bowling to leave Upton 13 runs short of the target and giving 20 points to Park. He finished with 5-46.
Hayes said: 'It's great to get a win by beating a team that are very similar to ourselves in playing ability. I am proud of my team and the way we dug in and fought for this game.'
When Winnington 2nds bowler Will Chambres claimed his first wicket, Poynton 2nds looked in trouble at 100-5 off 40 overs at the Rec. But they finished on 173-7 (Howard Burtwistle 3-40) and it proved way too much for Park.
They started disastrously: Ian Johns went for one, Chambres and Rob Begbie first ball. They were 25-6 and needed a miracle. Stuart Moniz batted bravely as long as he could and top-scored with 18, in Park's 67ao.
OULTON PARK were thwarted for the second week running by the rain. Successive washouts at Bowdon and Toft have not damaged their early challenge too much, partly because of Chester Boughton Hall and Widnes defeats at the weekend. After three games they are second.
A third-wicket stand between 15-year-old Jonny Kettle (73) and 16-year-old Jimmy Guest (76) was the highlight of Oulton 2nds' winning draw. Park scored 224-5 dec, Heaton Mersey 179-8 (Philip Yarwood 2-20).
Veteran Oulton player Steve Yates, the Cheshire Over 50s captain, and ex-Lancs player Tony Good, of Crusader Sports, are jointly sponsoring the 2nd XI's customised shirts, which will be of the same design as those of the 1st XI, sponsored by CD Bramall.
