Alvanley chase falls just short

Ouzounidis was rewarded with a snaffle at second slip by Jono Whitley, but it was to be after Northwich passed 50 before the second wicket came when Shewring bowled Cherion for 30.

The next pair added 58 but never got away as Shewring and Ainsworth bowled frugally in the middle overs. Shewring added a second victim to end this partnership but despite a wicket each for Chris Charles and Jimmy Ecclestone, Northwich were able to up the ante and ease towards, but not much past, 200.

The bedrock of the innings was a classy 86 from Fernando, denied a ton by a brilliant run out from Whitley.

Alvanley lost Bennion quickly but Whitely and Rowlands took the score on to 40 and looked untroubled.

A top edged sweep from Rowlands brought his downfall and with it there followed a long period of dot balls as McDonagh and Fernando bowled frugally.

Whitley was unlucky to drag the ball on to his stumps and when Gee nailed a pull straight into the fingers of midwicket, maybe it wasn’t going to be Alvanley’s day.

The Charles brothers departed before the score had hit 78 and the writing was on the wall, particularly when Ecclestone was trapped LBW to a ball that rolled along the ground.

Enter Sam Baxter and Lee Ainsworth. The pair decided to attack and they punctuated boundaries with clever singles and well judged twos.

They got the score to 159 when Baxter was caught in the deep trying to add to his classy 67 – well played that man! Ainsworth carried on, supported well by Shewring.

The score went on to 178 but overs were slipping away.

When Shewring also fell to a pea-roller, the shutters had to go up and Ainsworth and Ouzounidis negotiated the last couple of overs to close on 184/9.

Ainsworth batted maturely for his 32 not out.