Castrol Tessuti 186-9 (25 pts) bt Chester CO 139ao (7 pts): THE Oilmen got the season off to a cracking start on Saturday with victory in glorious conditions against a side expected to be one of their main promotion rivals.

Captain Mark Evans said: 'It was a brilliant effort with the bat, to achieve that total on a newly-laid pitch with the outfield still high was outstanding - it was worth a 220 score on the day. We had a little luck with Chester dropping five or six catches, but we rode it, held all of ours and made them pay. It was a great team effort.'

Evans won the toss, decided to bat on an unknown wicket and was soon regretting the decision with A Barlow (2-15) removing both openers' leg stumps, Steve Flanagan (0) first ball and Evans himself (5) two overs later.

However, Martin Flanagan (56) started where he left off last season and Chris Hutchinson (40) began to pull the match in Castrol's favour, with a partnership of 92.

This was brought to end by M Clarke (1-26) who had Hutchinson caught by Wilks.

Flanagan followed Hutchinson back into the pavilion with the score on 105, picking out S Jackson off J Gilbody (5-53).

Last year's leading batsman Darren Green went for just four after being bowled by Gilbody, but Tony King (20) looked like he meant business from the off, flicking Clarke off his pads for a first-ball six.

He had added 21 with Mike Garvey (10) before the returning S Johnson (1-31) castled the latter with the score on 138.

Next over, King smashed a delivery to long-on where I Barlow caught well.

Keith Garratt (28) joined Andy Walters (15no) with the pair instructed to bat for bonus points. However, Garratt proceeded to smash the ball to all areas of the park and the pair put on 47 in just five overs.

Unfortunately, Garratt couldn't see it through and was caught on the boundary, this time by Johnson off Gilbody.

Next ball, Damian Walters (0) was bowled by Gilbody but John Ball (1no) survived a potential hat-trick as Castrol closed on 186-9 from the 48 overs.

Chester were very cautious in their reply with Walters (5-34) and Ball (0-11) opening the bowling.

With the score on nine, Garvey took an exceptional catch at gully to dismiss Collard (4) off Walters.

The score had moved slowly onto 25 when Walters bowled a peach of a delivery to dismiss Clarke (9) lbw.

I Barlow (18) and R Nawid (32) were not allowed to settle but moved the score on to 59 when Garvey (3-21) had the dangerous Barlow caught at gully by Evans.

M Flanagan (1-5) then comprehensively bowled Nawid and, next over, Garvey castled Jackson (1).

The score was soon 82-6 with Garvey again hitting the stumps, bowling Watts (4), while Damian Walters bowled Chester skipper Johnson for seven.

The dogged Gilbody (26) was ably assisted by A Barlow (14) in adding 34 for the eighth wicket.

Evans then called on keeper Andy Walters (1-30) to bowl his part-time leg spin, and while Gilbody took a liking to his bowling, a lot were going in the air.

When Evans got the field right, Gilbody put one straight down S Flanagan's throat to really turn the tide.

MoM Walters soon had Wilks (1) caught by Ball and took his fifth wicket in the penultimate over, bowling Barlow with a beauty, leaving Owen with a duck and Chester all out for 139.

Matchballs sponsored by Frank McLeod's Driveways & Patios and Rod's Green Cutters.

Castrol are at Chelford on Saturday.