HERCULEAN effort by Over Peover ground staff was rewarded by an absorbing game at Well Bank Lane.

Eventual winners Peover set about negating a wet wicket, strong winds and a spirited Kerridge bowling and fielding performance.

Price (35) and Tucker (37) built a steady total while adopting contrasting approaches, the former rotating the strike while Tucker elected for shots of maximum violence.

A 50 partnership ensued before Danny Brown (3 for 28) interjected with a flurry of wickets.

Rob Jones blasted 25 off the final over to barrel Peover to 163-9 off their 40 overs.

Jones then removed the dangerous Danny Brown (11) in an opening spell of gnarl and menace.

Luke Wild (35) and James Knight (64) threatened to take the game away from Peover.

Nilesh Suryavanshi (3-40) battled to keep Peover in control but a string of missed catches, run outs and stumpings, kept the game delicately poised.

Kerridge needed 29 with three wickets left when skipper Mitchell turned to talisman Jones for one last effort. He duly responded to remove Knight and with it all hopes of a Kerridge victory.

With Mitchell leading the final charge at the other end, the tail was removed in a swift and clinical way to leave Peover top of the league with an unbeaten home record.

Peover's seconds continued their unbeaten season with a powerhouse performance against Wistaston.

Youngsters from the successful Peover cricket academy blended with elder club statesmen in a 99-run win.

Guided by star all rounder Samarjeet Kumar (39 not out and 10-3) in his breakout season for Peover and ably supported by Calum Mills (31) and Sam Slack (25) Peover posted 169-9 and reduced Wistaston to 75 all out in return.

Skipper Rottenbury said: “It's testament to the investment into the Peover Cricket Academy over the last five years that we are now able to select a crop of homegrown young players into the senior sides that are starting now to influence games."

Peover's first and second XIs take on Offerton CC away and home respectively on Saturday, 1pm start.