With seven wickets in hand and just 25 runs required, Holmes Chapel were odds-on to beat Wilmslow and claim top spot in the league.

However, summoned for a second spell, Tom Rowe (6-37) put paid to that in just four action-packed overs.

Earlier Rob Herriott (37) and Elliot Rowe (30) had put on 56 for the first wicket before the visitors suffered a collapse of their own and were precariously placed on 96-6.

Mike Lees (17) dug in, and Adam Dixon (40) teed off resulting in a competitive, although slightly below-par, 164.

A confident Chapel set about their task with some confidence, and nothing in those early overs would have caused alarm.

What a difference a change can make, as Rowe returned to take 5-13 within four overs. Panic had set in and with players were running scared, the final wicket – a runout – saw Chapel dismissed for 160. Wilmslow had taken three wickets in four balls to win.

League winners make things happen and although it is early days it is Wilmslow who top the table after five games.

The seconds lost, ending an unbeaten run and their top spot, to a well-drilled Appleton side.

The visitors were confident of posting a score and despite being 30-3 declared on 164-4.

Wilmslow then started like a train, Pax Glover and Mark Green posting 60 in no time.

Unfortunately their wickets fell, the middle order collapsed and they finished 22 runs short.