Toft 237-5 Alderley Edge 236-9

TOFT continue to put pressure on the leaders in the Cheshire County League’s top flight after beating Alderley Edge on Saturday.

They now sit third in the Premier Division table.

After asking their guests to bat at the weekend, they broke through quickly when Matt Cornes bowled former Lancashire batsman Mark Currie for 12.

The Knutsford outfit then struggled to break a second-wicket partnership between Alan Day (85) and Calum Rowe (47) who took the score to 148.

Toft skipper Toby Drummond reverted to a seam attack and his son James (3-19) and Pete Talbot (2-51) made inroads into Alderley Edge’s middle order.

Tom Foreman, with a resilient 44, and Australian Simon O’Brien (22) ensured the visitors posted a competitive 236-9.

In reply openers James Drummond (55) and Jake Hancock (23) set Toft on course for victory.

Further contributions from Henry Hughes (28) and captain Drummond (26no) supported a fluent, and match-winning, innings from Rob Jones (85no).

The hosts reached their target in the 51st over with five wickets down for the loss of five wickets.

Next up, it’s lowly Nantwich.

Meanwhile they have been drawn away to holders Chester Boughton Hall in the Red Insure T20 Trophy quarter finals. The tie is scheduled for next Thursday, July 10.

The Knutsford outfit will be on their travels in the Cheshire Cup last eight too, this time to Macclesfield.

Their opponents play in the county league’s second tier, with the match initially pencilled in for Sunday, July 27.

Toft seconds’ lead at the standings’ summit is worth 44 points after another win on Saturday.

Batting first at Alderley Edge, they raced to 243-5 with Ewan Williams’ 69 leading the way with support from opener Chris Drummond (65), Dan Lord (34) and Jake Dickinson (30no).

In response, Alderley were all out for 133 with Dickinson and Nigel Muirhead taking four wickets each.

Toft thirds lost by 11 runs to their Nantwich counterparts.

Skipper Andy Hodgson took 5-17, while Chris Drummond made 30 with the bat.

TOFT spinner Rob Jones took three wickets on his debut for Cheshire in their Unicorns Minor Counties Championship victory against Cornwall last weekend.