TOFT tumbled from the county league summit following a nine-wicket defeat at Hyde on Saturday.

The Knutsford outfit had no answer to the brilliance of Jason Whittaker, who bowled unchanged to take 7-62 as they were dismissed for 159.

James Drummond (33) and Rob Jones (31) took the men from Booth’s Park to 88-1 before Whittaker ripped through the rest of the batting order.

Jack Goode (29no) offered late resistance.

The Premier Division champions needed only 24 overs to secure victory, teenager Harry Dearden (107no) hitting 18 fours and four sixes in an unbroken second-wicket partnership with James Duffy (37no).

Matthew Cornes (1-26) took the wicket to fall, skipper Toby Drummond holding onto a smart catch.

Toft now share second spot with Nantwich, their guests this weekend, though Hyde are only four points better off.

They complete the campaign with trips to Neston and then Marple, with Chester Boughton Hall scheduled to visit in between.

In the reverse fixture, Toft seconds lost by 102 runs at home to their Hyde counterparts.

The visitors posted 228-5 after being put in, captain Paul Ashley (3-68) and James Hodgson (2-38) sharing the wickets to fall.

Ashley, along with Chris Drummond (21) and David Blackburn (22), made a start in Toft’s reply, but they never looked likely to challenge for a victory on their way to 126 all out.

Toft’s thirds suffered a narrow two-run defeat away to Marple on Sunday, when they bowled out their hosts for 127.

Seamer Will Dunkerley (4-30) and young spinner Hodgson (3-20) were the pick of the visitors’ attack.

In a close finish, Toft fell short at 125 all out after opener Chris Drummond (34) had contributed at the top of the order.