TOFT’S fine start to the week in the Joseph Holt T20 was not carried into Saturday’s league game.

A first defeat of the season in the ECB Premier League came at home to Oulton Park.

Four catches and two stumpings came off the bowling of James Lomas (6-23) as Park were skittled out for 199, after the hosts won the toss and elected to field first.

But the batsmen fell short.

Rob Jones led the response with 43 runs in 57 balls faced, including seven fours.

Henry Hughes (39), James Drummond (29) and Tom Forster (22) chipped in but three ducks from Ed Stubbs, James Scott and James Hodgson as only 28 runs were accrued but the lower six left Toft 17 runs short by the time their last men fell in the 52nd over.

Scott (51) and Andrew Jackson (61) contributed significantly to the T20 victory at Mobberley two days earlier.

Forster (30) also got into double figures as Toft rattled up 175 all out.

Jackson, Hodgson and Pete Talbot each took two wickets as Toft held Mobberley to 130-8 in reply in the Group Eight encounter.

Toft will be aiming to return to the winning groove in the ECB Premier League this weekend when they visit Alderley Edge, a side still seeking their first win of term.

Toft’s seconds came out on top in their Premier Division outing at Oulton Park.

Nigel Muirhead (5-20), Paul Ashley (2-27) and Matthew Cornes (2-25) helped to restrict the hosts to 126 all out.

Ashley also played a key role with the bat, his 55no being the major contribution to Toft’s 127-8 in reply. Next best hits were Ewan Williams (22) and Max Nightingale (19).