MIDDLEWICH narrowly lost a close encounter in Vivio Cheshire County League Division One at home to Cheadle Hulme, for whom Australian John Burton (33no) delivered victory with a six from the contest’s penultimate ball.

The visitors had been set a target of 119 to win, with in-form Kiwi Jordie Gibbens (45) leading the way before tail-end duo Gavin Tomlinson (16no) and Stuart Price (15no) took the total past 100.

Five different bowlers had taken wickets to leave Cheadle at 80-5 before Burton arrived at the crease, racing to 33 from just a dozen deliveries.

Davenham, skittled for 90, were on course for a first defeat of the season at Butcher’s Stile before the elements intervened at joint leaders Cheadle.

Spinner Paul Sperring took 6-30, supported by Chris Moore (4-29), before the match was abandoned with the visitors at 26-1.

There was no play between Didsbury and Oulton Park, still without a victory this season, in the same section.

Weaverham share the lead in Division Two with neighbours Northwich as a reward for 69-run success at Irby on Saturday.

Antiguan all-rounder Wilden Cornwall (117) contributed a superb century, including a partnership worth 41 runs for the sixth wicket with Alex Nash, to help the Russets recover from 25-5.

They were eventually dismissed for 163.

The home team were then knocked over for 94, with new recruit Mike Clarke claiming a five-wicket haul after Stef Bell and Keith Douglas had made initial inroads.

Cornwall completed a fine afternoon’s work by removing Irby’s last two batsmen.

“The fight we showed to close out the game was superb,” said stand-in captain Steve Woods.

“Batting wasn’t easy on that wicket, although Wilden wasn’t complaining!”

Northwich were bowled for 104 at Bredbury St Mark’s, where Lee Evans (34) was their leading scorer, before rain stopped play with the hosts on 12.