JIMMY Lomas has described Toft's stunning 64-run victory last weekend against Nantwich, the Cheshire County League leaders, as one of his favourite, writes Andrew Simpson.

The Knutsford outfit close a gap to the Premier Division pacesetters to 16 points as a result and with only four games left remain in contention to claim the title.

A trip to second-placed Timperley awaits on Saturday.

"We're exactly where we want to be," said the first-team captain.

"All of the hard work and effort over past few months were to put us in a position that gives us a chance.

"That's why the win against Nantwich is one of the best I've been involved in - because of what it means in terms of our season."

He led from the front, contributing 96 at the top of the order and sharing in a partnership worth 164 runs for the second wicket with Rob Sehmi (122no off 102 balls).

Andrew Jackson (27 off 14 balls) then struck four boundaries and a maximum to accelerate the scoring after his dismissal as the innings closed on 277-3.

"People have told me I should put myself higher up the order more often," quipped Lomas.

"The truth is I'm not that big a believer in my own batting, although that's in part because I've never done that much of it always coming in down the order.

"I'm happy to step up and do a job when needed, and I probably got out at the right time - I don't have any gears to go through when we need runs quickly!"

The game remained in the balance while Ireland international Niall O'Brien (100) was at the crease.

However he was bowled by Lomas, who finished with 3-47, with the score on 170 and the visitors crumbled from there to 213 all out.

Jackson took 4-53 to compete a fine day's work while Tom Forster returned figures of 2-56.

Lomas said: "We've perhaps been guilty in the past of coasting while in the field but there was none of that - we were ready from the first ball.

"Those standards never dropped once."

He told the Guardian that Nantwich, eight points clear, remain favourites to finish first because they have a favourable run-in.

That won't stop Toft from trying to overhaul them though.

"We honestly haven't talked much about winning it," he added.

"I've always found that we're at our best when we have something to fight for, and right now we have."