CHESTER Boughton Hall skipper Alex Kegg is flying high after helping Cheshire lift the Western Division Championship on his county debut.
But the 38-year-old will be brought back down to earth tomorrow as things get serious in the Murray Smith County League relegation zone.
Kegg, who admitted he thought his chance of county honours had passed him by, was drafted in the night before Sunday's three-day decider with Wales at Chester Boughton Hall.
A late drop-out gave Kegg the chance to join fellow Hall players Steve Ogilby (wicketkeeper), Robin Fisher and reserve Warren Goodwin in the squad which won the Minor Counties Championship Western Division for the first time in four years.
It was a great week for local players with Oulton Park's Nathan Dumelow and Danny Leech the star men as Andy Hall's team dismissed Wales for 207 in their second innings
Dumelow took five wickets (5-87) together with Chris Schofield (5-88) to leave the home side a victory target of 240 with 32 runs having been added on from the visitors' first innings lead.
With just 33 overs to get the runs, Leech led the way with 88 from 92 balls, an innings which included one glorious straight six and ten boundaries.
Cheshire eventually left themselves needing 11 off the last over but despite some lusty hitting they fell two runs short.
But ten draw points proved enough to take the title having led Berkshire, who could only draw at home to Hereford-shire, by 11 points going into the last match of the campaign.
Cheshire now meet Suffolk next month in Ipswich for the chance to be crowned the outright Championship winners, although Kegg doesn't expect to be included in the squad.
Kegg said: 'This was the first three-day game I have ever played. It was a big honour for me, especially at my age.
'I thought my chances of playing for Cheshire had gone by the wayside but it was a wonderful experience and if I was asked again I would definitely play again.
'I highly doubt I will be involved in the game against Suffolk but I enjoyed the experience thoroughly.'
Instead, Kegg is focussing on pulling rock-bottom Boughton Hall to safety - starting tomorrow at Oxton.
Kegg said: 'We've got four games to go against Oxton, Widnes, Poynton and Neston and we have to play each game like a cup final.
'They are four tough games but our destiny is in our hands. We are not reliant on anybody else.
'I genuinely believe we will stay up. There is enough quality in the side to get us out of trouble.
'After finishing fourth last year it's a mystery where it has all gone wrong. Over the last six months it seems that something that should be relaxing fun has become too pressurised.
'We've got to start enjoying ourselves again.
'There is no point in dwelling on what has happened as we have four games to go and we have to fight all the way.'
