Oxton inflicted a major blow to Macclesfield’s title hopes, just a week after their previous match ended in a disappointing defeat to rivals Nantwich.

Despite warm, sunny weather the ground was damp due to the heavy rainfall during the week.

The pitch looked perfectly suited for seam bowling, meaning the toss was crucial. Unfortunately for Macc, Oxton skipper Graham Cashin called correctly and asked the home side to bat.

It was clear from the off that batting was not easy, and the scoreboard quickly reflected this.

The Oxton opening pair of Birley and Fernando bowled extremely well and reduced the batting side to 2-2 within five overs. Rob Keen was caught behind and James Crosthwaite was then trapped LBW, both to the bowling of Birley.

Chris Moores and Khalid Sawas showed brief resistance but both fell to good deliveries.

Fernando then bowled right-handers Rob Porter and Andrew Hodgson to balls that jagged back in, before cleaning up Craig Melrose first ball to leave him on a hat-trick.

Liam Markie strode to the crease and nonchalantly deposited the hat-trick ball back over the bowler’s head for a boundary but he soon afterwards, followed by Jack Ward.

At this stage the Macc innings was at 25-9 and a truly embarrassing total was on the cards.

Last pair Barney Cutbill (17) and Ian Tait (11) were the only batsmen to make double figures as they ground out 28 valuable runs, to give the total some sort of respectability. But Macc’s total of 53 was going to be an extremely challenging one to defend. Fernando and Birley both ended up with five-wicket hauls to their name.

Macc started well with Melrose dismissing De Brabander for a duck and then Gibson for 7, both trapped LBW.

Tait followed up by having Davies caught behind by Crosthwaite. Former international Lou Vincent then crunched a shot through mid-off before being undone by a clever slower ball from Tait.

With the score at 30-4, Macc had a glimmer of hope. However, that was to be the last wicket they got with McGenity and Dixon both riding their luck to take Oxton home.

Tait and Melrose both picked up two wickets.

Oxton took the 25 points to go second in the table as Macc drop to fourth.

Two poor batting displays on the bounce gives Macc’s batsmen a point to prove next week as they travel to Chester in what will be a tough game.

Macc are still in with a chance of the title, but must play to their full potential in the remaining two games to come out on top in the 2012 campaign.

The game was sponsored by Anorak Marketing of Macclesfield.

BOLLINGTON'S vital double-header weekend returned mixed results in their fight for Division One survival.

On Saturday they thrashed Cheadle Hulme by nine wickets, bowling the visitors out for just 69 thanks to some outstanding bowling from Mo Ali (4-15), Mo Jahangir (4-29) and Tom Horsfield (2-17).

In reply Bolly knocked off the small total in just 12 overs, thanks to 35 not out from Mike Rixon, 23 from Matt Dawson and nine not out from Tom Barrass to bag the full 25 points.

Next up on Sunday Bolly travelled to fellow relegation candidates Heaton Mersey.

Bolly won the toss and asked the home side to bat first, and some tight bowling early on kept the run rate low.

However, good batting from South African Peter Vermeulen (55), Rashin Amin (51) and Hassan Rashid (33) got Heaton Mersey up to a par score of 184-6 from their 50 overs.

Jahangir took 4-86, Ali 1-56 and Horsfield 1-38.

In reply Bolly’s Dawson and Rixon put on 50 for the first wicket until Dawson was caught behind off the excellent Amin, Rixon quickly following for 38.

Jake Dickinson showed great maturity, digging in for a gutsy 35 but was unable to find any consistent support.

When Dickinson went so did Bolly’s chances of victory, though the tailenders tried manfully to dig in for the draw and prevent the hosts from victory but it was not to be as Bolly were bowled out inside 45 overs for 143.

Bolly still have a chance of survival if they can get a good points haul from each of their last two games.

They go to Sale on Saturday and then finish up against the recently crowned champions Bowdon at The Recreation Ground.

LANGLEY travelled to Meller Braggins League Division Three winners Chelford at the weekend and put in their worst performance of the season in a trouncing by the new league champions.

Skipper Stevens won the toss and on a damp, green wicket took the gamble to try and gain double batting points.

The plan failed miserably though.

Langley were bundled out for just 63, with Dean Jacklin (19), Gay (11) and Berzins (10) the only batsmen to reach double figures, a combination of good bowling and poor shot selection leading to Langley’s demise.

In reply the Chelford openers showed Langley how to bat as they cruised to 64 without loss off a trouble-free 15 overs for them.

Second-placed Langley still have promotion in sight as, although they’re 90 points adrift of Chelford, they have a 33-point gap between themselves and Over Peover in third.

Pott Shrigley’s match at Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge ended in a draw.

The hosts batted first and declared on 136-9.

In reply Pott made their way to 126 with just one wicket remaining, but the game ended as a draw, Pott collecting nine points to Cheadle Hulme’s 11.

Pott are in fifth place, level on points with Barrow.

In the First Division, the promotion places to join the Cheshire County League have already been secured by dominant pair Weaverham and Davenham but Prestbury will hope for better in their two remaining games, following defeat at home to Mobberley.

The visitors batted first and could muster an all-out toal of just 122.

Mobberley then bowled out Prestbury for 103 to take maximum points from the match, Prestbury collecting just six.

POYNTON kept up their improved form in Division Two with a 106-run win at home to Tattenhall after posting 182-8.

Jake Turner was the hosts’ top scorer with an excellent knock of 88.

Despite resistance from Ollie Thompson with 27, Tattenhall were then bowled out for just 76 as Damien Stringer collected 4-6 from seven overs and Rick Clark, who took the final scalp, finished with 4-26.

IN A rare afternoon’s play for both Kerridge sides the first and second XIs recorded wins despite both being under-strength.

The first team travelled to Wistaston and batted first.

They made a solid start with skipper Nathan Taylor reaching 24 alongside Adam Banks, who hit 21 in a 40-run stand.

But when man-of-the-match Jimmy Knight came to the wicket he proceeded to despatch the home attack to all quarters with a magnificent 97.

For the home side Brown, Collins and Titus all took three wickets but Kerridge had posted a more than handy 190.

After the break it was Knight – with ball in hand – who proceeded to dominate play with a return of 9-41 off 20 overs.

The other wicket was taken by Will McGinnis (1-14), a catch by Knight who therefore had a hand in all 10 Wistaston wickets.

Maywadd and Collins with an opening stand of 73 made early life difficult but once they had gone the rest was history.

The second team put their visitors Appleton into bat and the move paid off as early wickets fell, but Hesford (34), Inayat (20) and Hesford (21 not out) kept the score moving against a steady Kerridge attack of Geoff Allen (3-17), Ryan Taylor (3-26) and Gareth Davies (3-30). Appleton were dismissed for 108.

When Kerridge batted it was stand-in skipper Davies (28) and Joe Januszewski (33) who took the game to the visitors but it was a last-wicket stand by Rob White (16 not out, plus a good catch) and Allen that saw the home side past the post, finishing on 112-7.

The penultimate games on Saturday see the firsts at home to Haslington and the seconds go to Mellor – weather permitting.