TOFT endured a difficult weekend as they lost to Bramhall in the Cheshire County Cricket League Premier Division before exiting the Cheshire Cup at the hands of Grappenhall.

With star batsman Rob Jones on 12th man duty for England in their Test match against Pakistan on Saturday, hosts Bramhall invited Toft to have first use of the wicket and they made an excellent start, with Toby Drummond and Morgan Clark sharing an opening partnership of 94.

However, Drummond’s dismissal for 34 sparked a middle order collapse as they lost four wickets for just 17 runs.

Clark battled gamely to top score with 93, but the only other meaningful contribution came in the shape of Jimmy Lomas’ run-a-ball 27, which in turn bolstered the total to 208-8 from 55 overs.

Bramhall’s response was led by a stunning century from opener Nick Cantello, who made an unbeaten 110 to anchor his side’s innings.

He too, though, found support hard to come by and 3-50 from Joe Stanley helped keep the hosts in check before they eventually secured a three-wicket victory with just seven balls remaining.

They had the opportunity to put it right at Grappenhall on Sunday, but the hosts cantered to a 79-run win to reach the semi-finals of the Cheshire Cup.

Batting first on home turf, Grappenhall posted 288-6 from their 45 overs, thanks largely to a superb 105 from skipper Adam Roylance.

In response, Toft slipped to 5-2 early on but a century partnership between Clark and Henry Hughes steadied the ship.

Hughes fell for 54, while Clark again top scored with 67 but wickets fell around them as Toft were eventually dismissed for 209.

Toft host Chester Boughton Hall on Saturday.