TOFT could not extend a winning run to three matches when Neston visited Booth’s Park last weekend, but they had the better of a draw.

They sit third in the Cheshire County League’s top-flight ahead of a trip to promoted Grappenhall on Saturday, from 12.30pm.

Lancashire star Rob Jones was again in magnificent form as the Knutsford outfit posted 309-7, but he fell narrowly short of a third century in the space of a week.

He added 112 runs for the second wicket with Tom Forster (75), and 55 in tandem with James Drummond (48) for the fourth.

The latter also shared in a 50-run partnership with a free-scoring Andrew Jackson (34 off 15 balls).

Neston wobbled initially at 38-2, only for Will Evans (104) and Dom Smith (85) to put on 165 runs for the third wicket.

Toft skipper Toby Drummond turned to spinners Jones (3-66) and Jimmy Lomas (3-38) to slow down the visitors’ scoring rate, which they duly did.

However the visitors held on for a share of the spoils at 258-8.

Toft’s seconds tumbled to a heavy 117-run reverse against their Neston counterparts, who ran up 227-9 after being put in.

Captain Paul Ashley (4-55) and Richard Scott (4-40) starred with the ball.

The visitors struggled to recover from losing openers Chris Drummond and Joe Gates and, despite the best effort of Ed Stubbs (22), Ewan Williams (37) and Scott Craig (29), they succumbed for 110.

Toft’s thirds brushed aside Wistaston Village on Sunday after restricting their opponents to 116-8, George Muirhead taking four wickets.

His teammates, led by stand-in captain Williams (58no) and wicket-keeper Tom Maddocks (43no) needed only 19 overs to reach that target.