Stables century boosts Nantwich Cricket Club league challenge

Marcus Stables hit a sparkling century as Nantwich kept up the pressure at the top of the CCCL ECB Premier League with a four-wicket win at Toft.

Phil Stockton, Olly Griffiths and skipper Ray Doyle took a couple of wickets apiece but on a good batting track, the home side amassed 244-6 from their 55 overs.

But, thanks mainly to Stables, Nantwich always looked in control of the run chase and got home with more than eight overs to spare to collect another 25 points.

Ben Wright and Luke Robinson, with 32 apiece, gave good support but Stables’ third ton of the season - which included two sixes and 19 fours - was the highlight of the day.

Stables, though, was on Minor Counties duty for Cumbria the following day and missed the CCCL T20 Finals at Whitehouse Lane.

And he missed a defeat for the Dabbers as Chester Boughton Hall ended their hopes in the first semi-final.

An unbeaten half-century from Alex Money helped Chester to a total of 194 from their 20 overs but a third-wicket partnership of 71 between Chris Simpson (42) and Spencer Byatt (59) gave Nantwich a fighting chance of victory.

But when that partnership was broken, Chester took quick wickets and the Dabbers came up 18 runs short.

In the second semi-final on a great day at the NCG, Alderley Edge beat Hyde and then went on to beat Chester by seven wickets in the final as Sam Perry hit a brilliant unbeaten century in a 197-run chase.

Hyde are the visitors to Whitehouse Lane on Saturday and sit top of the league, 44 points ahead of third-placed Nantwich, who are four points behind Chester.

While Chester Boughton Hall men’s first eleven got the better of Nantwich in the T20 on Sunday, the Vipers made sure honours were even for the day with an impressive away win in the