Macclesfield made the short journey to Toft on Saturday, looking to secure their second win of the season.

The rain stayed away, but the outfield was extremely damp from the heavy rain in the week leading up. However, as is so often the case at Toft, the square remained rock solid.

Macc captain Barney Cutbill won the toss and decided to bowl.

The opening pair of Ward and Tait started well, hitting the pitch hard with good pace.

It was Jack Ward who picked up two early wickets including Toft’s Australian, Jake Hancock, caught behind. Craig Melrose then picked up the wicket of Shaun Mudalige, again caught behind by Jim Melrose.

Toft were reeling at 36-3 but Carolan and Drummond then had a good partnership before Cutbill claimed the wicket of Drummond to make the score 85-4.

This sparked another flurry of wickets as Toft collapsed to 113-8, which included a great catch from James Crosthwaite in the slips.

Stubbs and Lomas batted sensibly to add 44 for the ninth wicket and showed what could be achieved on the wicket if the batsmen applied themselves.

Toft’s total of 149 all out was a great effort from the Macc bowlers on a very good batting surface, backed up well in the field. Craig Melrose finished with 3-59, Ward 2-25, Cutbill 2-30 and Jim Melrose had his own five-wicket haul, taking five catches behind the stumps.

In reply, Macc lost the early wicket of Rob Keen, bowled by Tom Atkinson.

Rick Hough and the in-form Khalid Sawas then took it upon themselves to finish the job with just the solitary wicket down.

Both looked in good touch as they steadily made their way to 50 and put on an unbeaten second-wicket partnership of 139.

Hough was finding his form again with some glorious shots all around the wicket, finishing with a well played 73.

Cheshire batsman Sawas continued his recent good run with 63.

It was an emphatic – and maximum-point – win for Macc who have improved after a shaky start to the season and will look to maintain their recent good form at home to Didsbury next week.

Bollington crashed to an 189-run defeat at home to Christleton on Saturday.

Despite winning the toss and inserting the visitors on a slightly damp wicket Bolly struggled to make inroads against a strong Chrisleton batting line-up.

Only the returning Mo Ali, who took 4-24, bowled with any kind of discipline as Christleton’s overseas player Varun Sood crashed his way to an unbeaten 99.

Aldo Palazzo picked up 2-52 and Toby Ward 1-26 as Christleton finished on a mammoth 231-7 from their 50 overs.

The Bolly reply never even started; only Matt Dawson with 24 looked remotely comfortable as opening bowler Russell Butcher (6-20) and Sood who completed an outstanding all-round day with 4-1 as Bolly were skittled for just 42.

Bolly will need a much improved performance when they visit table-toppers Grappenhall on Saturday.

POTT Shrigley first team travelled to Glazebury in the hope of a first victory of the season.

However, having lost the toss and being put into bat in wet conditions, Shrigley were bowled out for 69.

Rob Lisney was the only batsman to show any real grit with a determined 22 not out.

In reply, despite taking regular wickets, the target was never really big enough to trouble the Glazebury batsmen and they reached it for the loss of four wickets.

Alex Jackson continued his good early season form; his capture of all four wickets was their only bright spot.

Pott seconds hosted Glazebury in the reverse fixture with the visitors top of the league.

Pott lost the toss and again were asked to have a bat in bowler-friendly conditions – though they got off to a good start, with Dawson (38) and Thomas (28) taking Shrigley to 60 without loss.

Scarsbrook (21) held things together in the middle order, which saw the Hillmen eventually bowled out for 129.

Shrigley’s bowlers thengave nothing away, with Rob Lea taking three wickets in his first two overs. Tarr struck four times for 18, backed up with two wickets for Hackley.

Now top-of-the-table, the Hillmen travel to Winsford next week.

POYNTON were unable to take the final wicket needed for victory at Middlewich.

Batting first, Poynton were indebted to Tom Berzins, who ended the innings unbeaten on 91 as they posted a total of 175.

In response, the visitors’ top-scorer was their captain James Cornford, who made 57 as they managed to see out their 50 overs, ending on 150-9.

Poynton, who host Warrington next Saturday, took 10 points from the fixture.

PRESTBURY defended a small total in overcoming Winnington Park on Saturday.

Prestbury batted first as their hosts limited them to just 99 all out.

With 100 the target, hosts Winnington may have been tipped to win the fixture but Prestbury bowled them out for just 83, taking maximum points from what was their first win of the season.

Prestbury made a disappointing debut in the National Village Cup against Hawk Green.

Hawk Green put on 253 all out with Arron Lynch the best bowler with 3-18 and Downey top-scoring for Hawk Green.

However, Prestbury were never in the hunt with Ben Milner the top-scorer in a disappointing total of 80 all out.