Browse Sections

• Macclesfield Town FC
• Local football
• Local cricket
• Golf

So near for Dawson

17/ 7/2001

CHEADLE Hulme's David Dawson became the first league batsman to score three centuries this season - only to see his cricket team lose by just five runs.

The young Australian all-rounder hit 112, but Cheadle Hulme were bowled out just a handful of runs short of victory against title-chasing Neston.

Neston went top of the ECB Premier League after veteran bowler Dave Jones skittled out the Hulme tail-enders to finish with 6-75 - but it looked for a while as if Dawson would lead his team to victory.

Stan Clifford had taken his run tally for the season to 618 in helping Neston to 195-7 declared, but then Dawson led a Cheadle Hulme fightback which finished on 190.

Neston leapfrogged Didsbury, who lost only their second game after posting an impressive 194-7 dec.

Alderley Edge made it by five wickets with three overs to spare thanks to Steve O'Shaughnessey with 50 not out.

Oulton Park moved up to second with a six-wicket win at bottom club Oxton, who took 60 overs to hit 213-9, Simon Curwood top-scoring with 67.

With Paul Berry (86) and Jason Swift (59) again in prime form, Oulton made it with two overs to spare.

In a tight finish at South Downs Road, Hyde took 16 points against Bowdon after running up 244-4 dec.

Bowdon, who took nine points, got to within four runs of victory at 241-8, Nathan Wood scoring 87.

Most bizarre incident of the weekend was at Macclesfield - where eight overs were lost in a late start caused by having to cut and roll a new pitch after the groundsman had gone on holiday without preparing a strip.

Macclesfield's Mike Allen nevertheless scored an unbeaten 72 in 191-6 dec.

Nantwich replied with 149-7 - Jeff Maynard topped 500 for the summer with 56, and Simon Ackerley took 4-32.

Toft outplayed Chester Boughton Hall at Booth Park, but managed to collect only 15 draw points after scoring 235-7 (Manoy Roy 74, Nigel Muirhead 70).

Chester would probably have lost but for a worthy unbeaten 83 from skipper and emergency opener Jeremy Jordan in a total score of 132-6.