IT was a weekend to forget for Toft’s first XI, despite Tom Forster’s best efforts.

He was the leading scorer in Saturday’s league loss to Cheadle and Sunday’s Cheshire Cup second-round defeat at Lindow, where he racked up a century.

Forster also bagged four wickets and an early catch in the Cheshire County Cricket League Premier East match but on neither day could Toft make his considerable contributions count.

Cheadle went on to win by three wickets, achieving 152-7 on the fifth ball of the 39th over after being set 149-7 by their guests.

Forster proved to be a mainstay of the innings, coming in at 33-2 and only being run out for 41 on the final ball of the 40 overs.

Knutsford Guardian:

Tom Forster in the groove against Cheadle, above, and when his wicket was taken, below. Pictures: Jeff Tenner

Knutsford Guardian:

The best support acts came from Scott Craig 26, Robert Sehmi, 22 and Toby Drummond, 22.

Cheadle’s openers departed cheaply but Dan Brown’s 37 plus 50 from Subhaan Mahmood turned the tide.

Lindow, two steps below Toft, were so disappointed with their league defeat to Stockport Georgians on Saturday their players hit the nets the same night to get themselves tuned up.

It worked a treat for them as they achieved a four-wicket victory to reach the quarter finals at Toft’s expense.

After Ryan O’Brien and Max Law took early wickets to leave Toft 20-2, Sehmi and Forster steadied the ship with a partnership of 80 – Sehmi eventually fell lbw to Mark Farrell for 41.

Forster compiled a superb unbeaten century and with late support from Thomas Roe’s 38 not out from 24 balls, Toft posted 237-5 from their 40 overs.

Knutsford Guardian:

Tom Forster on his way to compiling his century, above, which he acknowledges, below. Pictures: Jeff Tenner

Knutsford Guardian:

It was a tough-looking chase for Lindow, but Rob Herriot’s quickfire 27 got them off to a fast start until he, like opening partner O’Brien before him, fell to Adam Kenyon.

They had an 89-run partnership between Pat Christys and Robin Broom to thank for setting the foundations, with Broom’s 65 from 46 deliveries setting the tone for Law and Matthews to pick up the baton and lead the charge to victory.

The home crowd were growing in belief as the boundaries flowed for Law, who smashed 75 from 50 balls but fell agonisingly short of finishing the run chase off.

He was clean bowled by Will Dunkerley with Lindow just seven runs shy of their target so it was left to Matthews, who finished unbeaten on 38, to wrap up the win with three overs to spare.

Toft are left to lick their wounds and recover before hosting Didsbury in the Premier Division on Saturday.