BOWLERS did the business for teams across mid Cheshire in league action last weekend.

A string of five-fers, almost all of them contributing towards a victory, stood out for our sides.

Unlucky Praveen Pattisapu, of Hartford, scored a ton and claimed five wickets in a game that still ended in a draw.

Here’s a round-up of the best performances:

Richard Smith (Oulton Park seconds) (6-40 off 15 overs)

IF Oulton Park seconds were in a position to record a third win of the campaign in the Cheshire County League, then Smith’s bowling display is a significant reason why.

He took six wickets to help dismiss hosts Didsbury seconds for 180 after the visitors had won the toss.

That included opener Hamza Ahmed (38), who had threatened to make a big score at the top of the order.

The men from Little Budworth later posted 181-5 to secure victory.

Phil Parry (Middlewich) (5-41 of 12.5 overs)

THE Middlewich captain claimed his first five-fer of a new Cheshire League campaign on Sunday when his side visited Woodford.

He returned figures of 5-41, claiming the scalp of danger men Danny Clinch and Patrick Meese after they had both passed 50, as the home team put 174 on the board.

It was a total that proved enough after the team from Haddon Field succumbed for 134 in their reply.

Matt Norton (Oakmere) (6-28 off 11 overs)

OAKMERE had expected their toughest assignment of the Cheshire League season so far when Division Two pace-setters Stockport Trinity arrived at Overdale Lane.

However the hosts’ seamer, Matt Norton, ensured the contest would be a short one after demolishing the away side’s batting order with a fine bowling display.

They were hustled out for 59 in 22 overs, with Norton claiming 6-28 – a second five-fer of the campaign after taking 5-10 against Middlewich in April.

Mike Cushion (Oakmere seconds) (6-48 off 14 overs)

Mike Cushion, a regular for Cheshire’s over 60s team, shows no sign of slowing down.

His return of 6-48 for Oakmere’s seconds at Lymm last weekend helped knock over the home team for 115, including the wicket of Richard Hughes (31) just as he appeared to be getting into a groove.

Oakmere went on to record a four-wicket win in the Cheshire League Division A encounter after replying with 116-6.

Cushion has 15 wickets to his name, and has struck in every game except one.

Matty Booth (Weaverham seconds) (5-28 off 12.5 overs)

Matty Booth made an impact on his first appearance of the season for Weaverham’s seconds, helping to skittle visitors Middlewich seconds for 75 at Wallerscote Road.

He claimed 5-28, after Doug Pinnington (4-25) had ripped through the top-order, to set the Russets on a course for a nine-wicket victory they secured later after cruising to 78-1.

Booth appears to enjoy a derby duel; he weighed in with 6-34 against Northwich seconds last season – his best figures during the 2017 campaign.

Patrick Phelan (Kingsley seconds) (5-21 off seven overs)

Kingsley’s skipper followed fine opening spells from Paul Betteridge and Joe Kitchen to knock over Warrington fourths’ middle-order at Walton Lea.

He finished with 5-21 off seven overs, including a maiden, as the hosts succumbed for 73 after being put in.

The Crofters bettered that total inside little more than 16 overs to claim an eight-wicket triumph in the Cheshire League Division C North encounter.

Praveen Pattisapu (Hartford) (100 and 5-21 of 13 overs)

An outstanding solo performance deserved more than for Hartford to draw with Haslington thirds at Grange Park.

The all-rounder contributed exactly 100 to his side’s 229-6, striking a dozen fours and five maximums, after they were put in.

Pattisapu then followed a promising opening by Sam Dilworth (3-24) to help himself to 5-21, with six of his 13 overs ending in a maiden, only for Haslington’s last-wicket pair to stay defiant until the end.

They closed the Cheshire League Division C South fixture on 103-9.