MIDDLEWICH'S cricketers will spend the season's second half attempting to avoid being relegated from the Cheshire County League's second tier.

An agonising two-run reverse at fellow-strugglers Christleton on Saturday was a fifth defeat in the past half-dozen Division One matches, leaving them 37 points adrift of a position of safety.

They have won only once, against Tattenhall at the end of April, to date.

A superb last-wicket stand, worth 88 runs, between tail-enders Stuart Price (48no) and Pat Hurley (31) almost altered that statistic.

Set a target of 218 to win, Middlewich had little hope at 127-9 when the duo came together at the crease.

But they scored 14 boundaries between them before Hurley was caught in the 45th over.

Further up the order, Jamie Williams (35) and Kieran Boyle (28) had added 54 runs for the second wicket before another quick-fire contribution from Kristian Clowes (31 off 19 balls).

Earlier, Kiwi Mitch Renwick (53) had become the first batsman in the county league to pass 500 runs for the campaign in his side's 217-9.

He was caught by Boyle off the bowling of Stephen Bliss (3-45), the most successful of the visitors' attack.

Leandro Du Toit (2-50) and Boyle (2-30) chipped in as well, with the latter also holding on to two other catches.

Middlewich host seventh-placed Oxton at Haddon Field this weekend, from 1pm.

Before that, they complete their Joseph Holt Brewery T20 Cup group-stage campaign at home to lower-ranked Congleton tomorrow, Thursday.

After two defeats each, both teams have already been eliminated.

Meanwhile Middlewich seconds were denied by bad light from bowling out Congleton during a rain-affected draw on Saturday.

A partnership worth 67 runs for the fourth wicket between Tom Shepherd (27) and skipper Alex Gill (42) was a highlight of the hosts' innings as they posted 177-7.

Andrew Davies (33) and Kallum Boyle (29no) contributed too.

Congleton's reply, halted twice by rain, ended at 117-7 with Davies (4-62) most productive of the Middlewich bowling attack.