NANTWICH second team revelled in the limelight and went top of the league after bad weather washed out the first XI's match at Neston.

The Premier Division clash did get under way, and Neston posted 164-4 off 46.3 overs as they opened the game. Barrington Brown (2-30) and Olly Sadler (1-20) got time to flex their bowling muscles. But the heavens opened and the match had to be abandoned, both teams receiving seven points each.

The Dabbers second string took centre stage and blasted their way to the top of their league with a win at home to Neston.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Nantwich soon lost the early wicket of Keith Kellett, but this was to prove a minor blip as youngsters Robert Cook-Sievewright and Chris Simpson took the score to 110, before Cook-Sievewright was out for a fluent 44.

Veteran Lee Prince (40no) then joined Simpson to take the score to an excellent 207-2 declared off just 43 overs, with 18-year-old Simpson compiling a tremendous 105no.

This gave the visitors 49 overs to overcome the imposing Nantwich total, but this never looked likely when 17-year-old Philip Stockton made early inroads with three quick wickets.

At 48-4 the visitors looked in danger of a complete collapse. However, a battling show by J Fennah and T Hollingsbee took the score to 110.

A draw then looked the most probable result until an outstanding piece of fielding by Stockton resulted in the run out of Hollingsbee for 48.

This was the turning point Nantwich needed. Skipper Simon Blackledge brought pace-man Nick Massey back into the attack, and he grabbed the final wicket with just six balls remaining. Prince's athletic diving catch at slip handed his side 25 points and took them to the division's summit.

Nantwich seconds continued their winning habit with a Second Team Cup win at Toft. Batting first, the Dabbers posted 163-8 (Cook-Sievewright 29, Blackledge 38).

In reply, Neston stood at 102-7 when rain stopped play. Nantwich were handed victory by virtue of their superior run rate.

Poynton conceded their First Team Cup tie with Nantwich, as they could not field a team. The Dabbers will face Davenham or Birkenhead Park in the next round.

The fourth team drew at Tattenhall in a rain-affected match. Nantwich batted first and scored 167-5, Neil Stockton top scoring with 37.

Tattenhall replied with 59-6, Chris Mckeown returning 3-12.

nAlsager allowed Birken-head Park to go top of Division One as they succumbed by three wickets in a near 9pm finish. Ashwin Punja scored 56 in Alsager's modest 137.

Richard Pickford (17) contributed and 10th man in Paul Cotterill (30) added some credibility. Shahid Mahmood claimed 5-38.

Park started well in their reply, but after M Arshad removed T Hunter (23), and Shaun Woolley (3-33) caught and bowled A Gibson (39), the hosts began to wobble.

But the form side ploughed ahead and eventually reached 142-7 to claim 25 points in the 30th over.