KNUTSFORD guaranteed they will be promoted at the end of the season after recording one of their most emphatic victories.

They beat Cheshire League Division Four back-markers Bowdon Vale by 173 runs at Mereheath Lane – a 13th win in 20 matches.

It means they cannot be caught by third-placed Trafford and will battle with Audlem, currently three points adrift, for first place in the remaining fortnight of the campaign.

Knutsford visit their rivals on Saturday.

Khawar Iqbal (74) and Adnan Ghazanfar (41) put on 71 together for the first wicket last weekend when their side posted 254-6 before declaring in the 41st over.

Ali Azaad (40no off 24 balls) and Rana Saqlain (50no off 30 balls) added 81 runs in an unbroken seventh-wicket stand.

With the exception of Alex Power (23), no Bowdon batsman made it to double-figures – indeed four of them were dismissed for a duck – as they collapsed to 81 all out.

Zeeshan Shah (5-14) was the pick of the home team’s bowlers, and he enjoyed support from captain Adeel Bhatti (2-20) while Zahid Saleem (1-17), Muhsin Ali (1-1) and Saqlan (1-12) took the other wickets to fall.

Knutsford’s seconds had an afternoon off after their Bowdon Vale counterparts conceded a Division C North fixture.

It means they host leaders Kingsley seconds on Saturday without the benefit of having played seven days earlier.

Results

UKFast Cheshire League

Week 20

Saturday, September 1

Division Four: Glazebury 137 Frodsham 154; Knutsford 254-6 dec Bowdon Vale 81; Over Peover 141-7 Styal 140; Trafford MV 170 Westminster Park 174-7; Tranmere Victoria 158 Audlem 219-4 dec; Winsford 117 Wistaston Village 183-9

Division C North: Appleton 4th 173 Warrington 4th 174-4; Ashley Academy 208-4 Europa Exiles 207-4; Bowdon Vale 2nd conceded to Knutsford 2nd; Frodsham 2nd 135-4 Glazebury 2nd 134-8; Kingsley 2nd 211-4 Rostherne 209-3