ELLESMERE Port moved within three points of pole position in Cheshire Alliance Division Two on Saturday with a four-wicket home victory over promotion-rivals Saughall.
And you would not bet against Port being top by the end of this weekend, such is their fantastic form.
Gareth Boys’ third-placed team, who entertain fifth-placed Trinity on Saturday, are flying after winning their last six matches.
Success number six came against a Saughall side that were skittled for just 57 – their second lowest ever score in the league.
Having won the toss and chosen to insert their visitors onto a rain-sodden soft track, ace duo Dwayne Bernard (4-16) and Fahad Khan (4-21) took full advantage of the conditions to do most of the damage.
Port did not have it all their own way in reply but, with the help of a string of dropped catches, they made it to 58-6.
Ellesmere Port 2nds’ Division Three unbeaten run now stands at seven games after they drew at title-challenging Appleton 2nds.
The second-placed hosts put on 181-3 before Port came desperately close to chasing down that total, falling 12 runs short on 170-4 despite half-centuries from Colin Roberts (53no) and Steve Nichol (50).
The Groves 2nds stopped the rot with a derby draw against Capenhurst, who set 114-8 (S Batty 31; S Jones 3-21) but then could not see off the struggling home team, who held out on 91-9 (J Homer 5-28).
Neston’s lead at the top of the Cheshire County League Premier Division is down to two points after their high-scoring draw at Oulton Park on Sunday.
Led by Chris Hackett (103no), Neston, who host Bowdon on Saturday, hit 252-7 in response to 295-5.
