OULTON PARK, as anticipated, won Sunday's League Cup semi-final against neighbours WINNINGTON, but in an unexpected manner.
The tie not only brought together Mid Cheshire's leading clubs but pitted brother against brother, with David Leech playing for Winnington and Danny for Oulton.
The First Division hosts put on 45 for the first wicket (James Lewis 33) and then Tom Allen (23) and David Leech (31) took the score to 100 before Andy McIlroy stepped in to account for them both.
There was no collapse but the runs dried up to a trickle and Winnington finished on 151-6 (Kent 2-13).
It seemed a modest target for Oulton, until Andrew Kent went for two, Jason Whittaker for 13 and Paul Berry 21. Suddenly Oulton were 47-3 and it was left to Mike Bentham to steady their nerves and give the innings direction.
He scored 39 and Winnington product Danny Leech smote 52no to see Oulton to 154-5 and a final next month against either Chester Boughton Hall or Bowdon.
Home skipper Mike Johns, an ex-Oulton player, said: 'It was a dream tie for us and the whole team tried their hardest to pull off a shock result, but it wasn't meant to be. Oulton are a very strong team who play with 11 batsmen and seven bowlers. But we didn't make it easy for them. They knew that they had been in a tough match and that is credit to us.'
Kent seemingly used up all his runs the previous day. He blasted 174 off 131 balls, including six sixes, before being caught at Bramhall. He shared a stand of 212 with Berry not out 80 before Oulton declared at 267-2. They then bowled out their struggling hosts for 122.
Whittaker (3-30) removed the openers, Chris Jones took 3-41 and colt Andy Wilgose 2-5, and the win keeps Oulton in touch with the runners-up spot challengers.
Bredbury St Marks 2nds 189ao (Steve Wright 6-84) Oulton 2nds 195-3 (17-year-old George Gay 116no, Steve Wright 49; Bredbury 3rds 130 (Damien Barton 4-27, David Clarke 2-30) Oulton 3rds 133-1 (Luke Heritage 56no) - Oulton's 10th consecutive win.
* WINNINGTON saw their promotion hopes fizzle out at Poynton, who hit 236-6 (Stuart Hayes 3-81). The batting was for once ineffective, James Bunby (40) apart. Winnington were bowled out for 115 and it could have been worse - they were 33-5.
The upshot was Winnington's place in the top four was put in doubt as Upton, fifth, won.
Captain Johns said: 'Poynton are a good side and will do well next year in the Premiership. It would be easy for me to blame it on the conditions, however, they batted brilliantly on the same wicket and these conditions are not something we are used to.
'However, we have played them on good wickets in the past and the result has been the same.'
