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Cheadle demolition job

Mike Talbot-Butler
25/ 4/2007

THERE was a sunny and positive start to the 2007 Cheshire County League season when five wins were recorded in the ECB Premier League.

Perhaps the most impressive being by Hyde who chased 277 for 5 to win by seven wickets at Chester Boughton Hall.

Newly-promoted Chester batted well to compile 277 for 5 as two debutants scored the bulk of the runs with new Aussie Shane Jones left on 98 not out at the half-way stage and ex-Christleton skipper Jim Gillson hitting 51 in a 114 stand for the third wicket.

Hyde were up for it and reached their target with more than three overs to spare.

Openers Rob Brierley (87) and Dave Fitzsimmons (80) put on 165, then James Duffy (59 not out) and John Ashley (40) took it from there.

Also promoted, Urmston had the better of a high-scoring draw on the ground of champions Oulton Park.

Widnes did well to win by seven wickets at Bramhall as they dismissed the home side for 150 (Chris Heppell 47, Sean Moore 5-22).

Another Aussie import, Neil Barfuss, claimed an unbeaten 55 and James McCoy 42 as Widnes eased home.

There were four winners in Division One, the most emphatic being Cheadle's 149-run demolition of Birkenhead Park at Kingsway.

Australian Dan Schuppan was the star turn, scoring 43 in his new club's 213 (John Costain 4-30), then taking 5-23 as Birkenhead sank to 66 all out.

Macclesfield had an impressive 63-run win off the penultimate delivery at Poynton.

Victorian returnee Evan Gulbis scored 50 and Mark Morrison 42 in Macc's 215 for 7.

Poynton fell 63 runs short at 153 (Dave Watkins 41, Paul Gould 40, Craig Melrose 5-36, including the key late wicket).

Oxton had the better of a high-scoring draw at home to promoted Bredbury St Mark's after scoring 244 (Simon Stokes 59).

Paul Wood hit a fine 118 in Bredbury's response of 214 for 7, with new Oxton skipper Andy Birley claiming 4-50.

Alsager had the better of a drawn game at home to Heaton Mersey after a declared tally of 166 for 8 (Simon Dyer 69).

'Mersey lurched to 104 for 8 (John Williamson 38, Mohammed Usman 4-21).

The Alsager pitch was marked below standard by the umpires.

Newcomers Hale Barns scored an impressive nine-wicket win over Congleton to make an impressive start in Division Two.

Congleton were rolled over for 123 (Paul Beaumont 46 not out, Dave Molloy 4-31) after which Hale Barns coasted home thanks to Steve Fletcher (78) and new Aussie Ciaron Connolly (36), both not out.