KNUTSFORD suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season in the Cheshire League when they lost by 51 runs at Old Parkonians last Saturday.

The home team ran up 217-6 before declaring, with half-centuries from Greg Lindop (63 off 51 balls) and Adam Winstanley (50no) a highlight of their innings.

Skipper Adeel Bhatti took 3-50, while Waheed Khan chipped in with 2-34.

Knutsford struggled to recover after Lewis Elwood (3-46) broke through early, having Muhammad Arshad caught at slip before removing Ali Azaad.

Darren Longden (23) and Arif Hussain (19) briefly rallied, but Ben Rees and Chris Beckett (both 2-43) combined to take further wickets.

Tail-end pair Bhatti (20no) and Khan (21) then frustrated the hosts’ attack before a mix-up between them resulted in the latter being run out with the score on 166.

It leaves Knutsford eighth in Division Four.

They are scheduled to return to action on Saturday week, June 10, when they head to Tranmere Victoria.

The second team’s league meeting with their Winnington Park counterparts was cancelled following a heavy thunderstorm shortly before the start of play at Mereheath Lane.

They head to Langley this weekend, then host Ashley’s Academy in a T20 Knockout second-round tie on Tuesday, from 6.15pm.