Chasing a very gettable 156 posted by visitors Mossley, Wilmslow lost early wickets cheaply and very nearly much more, as a localised thunderstorm threatened to wash away their lead in Division Two of the Cheshire Cricket Alliance.

The Rectory Field was literally under water. There is, however, a great spirit within the club, and with the assistance of a number of spectators, the ground was fit to play after an hour of mopping up.

With promotion rivals Wayfarers and Holmes Chapel collecting maximum points, the win – with four wickets in hand – was vitally important.

The rain delay meant a loss of overs and a target of seven runs an over.

Toby Rowe had made a good start with 47, but the rain changed the game completely. Vice captain Steve Fulker has made some big scores over the years, but his 38 not out at more than a run a ball was one of the most satisfying.

Earlier skipper Jay Patel with five wickets and inevitably Jags Narayaran with four, had restricted a resurgent Mossley to a below par score. Wilmslow maintain a 33-point lead at the top of the table.

n Wilmslow’s third XI were also successful at the weekend

Each Sunday Wilmslow put out a mixture of juniors and senior players to play in the Greater Manchester Amateur Cricket league.

The result is not all important, as the priority is introducing juniors to the senior game.

However, the juniors are not reading the script.

Wilmslow top the league, and the youngsters are scoring all the runs and getting all the wickets.

Jake Woodhouse and Chris Arnot were the pick of the bowlers against Olympic MSJ, and Jack Newson is an inspiration in the field.

Earlier a 164-run partnership between father and son was of course dominated by the son, Ethan Harding top scoring with 118 as Wilmslow put on 202-6.

The reply saw MSJ bowled out for 187.