TOFT’S cricketers were better during a battle with hosts Bramhall on Saturday, but could not take maximum points from their Vivio Cheshire County League clash.

They posted 230-8 after winning the toss, a total that seemed a distance away when James Drummond was dismissed by former teammate Rupe Kitzinger in the opening over.

Jake Hancock (97) and Rob Jones (32) then added 90 for the second wicket, though the latter’s departure prompted a series of wickets to fall before captain Toby Drummond (55) upped their tally late in the innings.

Simon Wilkinson did the damage for Bramhall, taking five wickets at a cost of 69 Bramhall reached 175-7 in reply, Jones (4-20) leading the attack in tandem with Jimmy Lomas (2-50).

James Drummond took the other wicket to fall, while Mathew Begbie (67) posted a half-century.

Last Tuesday, Toft made sure of a quarter finals place in the Red Insure T20 Trophy following a 75-run success against Bredbury St Mark’s at Booth’s Park.

James Drummond (46 off 29 balls) and Hancock (73 off 51) scored quickly at the start to take their team to 181-4.

Bredbury never looked likely winners, closing on 106-7 with Matt Cornes – playing in Toft’s first team after an eight-year hiatus while playing in New Zealand – taking 2-25 from his four-over spell.

Toft seconds continue to dominate the county league second XI Premier Division after seeing off their Didsbury counterparts.

They posted 236-7, with youngsters Sam Hatcher (77) and Jake Dickinson (35no) the main contributors.

Spinners Dickinson (4-50), James Hodgson (3-23) and Nigel Muirhead (3-49) shared the wickets as Didsbury were dismissed for 159 in reply.