A nerve-shredding win keeps Poynton’s survival hopes alive

VIVIO CHESHIRE CCL DIVISION TWO IRBY ............................. 141 POYNTON ................ 142-9

batting 28 overs for 31 runs and adding 66 with Hopkins.

But, having taken Poynton within 11 runs of victory, neither could see the run chase through, as Hopkins became the seventh victim of Shillinglaw.

There would be more twists as the ninth wicket fell with five still required, and then when the last four runs Poynton required came courtesy of a wild leg-side delivery that went for four byes.

Shillinglaw finished with final figures of 8-80 in 21 overs, and while he might be considered unlucky to finish on the losing side after taking so many scalps, with Poynton’s target just three runs per over, he was unable to provide the necessary control to keep the scoring in check.

The fact that Poynton had so little to chase was thanks to the bowling of Andy Heath, who took 5-27 in his first significant spell in the first team and Jimmy Williams (3-30). Irby subsided from 97-2 and 134-6 to an all-out 141.

Top scorers were Dave Newman with 41, Kagisho Pedi with 34 and Martin Smith with 28.