Smith century plays big part in Oakamoor’s rise to the summit

OAKAMOOR replaced Meakins at the top of NSSCL Division Three after beating Hem Heath in comprehensive fashion.

James Smith top-scored with 57 for Oakamoor as they posted 191-8, an innings in which Chris Williams took 3-53 and Dean Baxter picked up 3-69.

Hem Heath’s batsmen struggled in reply and

Matt Wolff (4-25) and Paul Hammersley (3-10) left the visitors all out for 66.

Stone SP seconds had the better of their draw against their Checkley counterparts.

EJ Laverty (58), Liam hickey (50), Drew Chandler (43) and Phil Cheadle (30) joined forces to power Stone SP to 241-6 declared.

Checkley secured a share of the spoils, though, as Brendan Lovatt (62) and Morgan Rowe (41) led them to 182-7 at the close.

Dan Lakin’s top-quality spell secured a shock win for Eccleshall seconds over highflying Meakins.

Eccleshall are in danger of the drop, while visitors Meakins are in the promotion places, but form meant nothing as Lakin stole the limelight.

He snared 9-14 to send Meakins sliding to 55 all out - and Eccleshall eased to an eight-wicket win to move to within two points of safety.

Hanford made home advantage count to beat Crewe.

Mohammed Saleem’s 32 was the main contribution to Hanford’s 171 as James Littlewood took 5-56 and Martin Webb picked up 3-26.

Littlewood (29) attempted to inject some momentum in to the Crewe reply, but Atique Khan’s 4-19 unseated the visitors for 125.

Rode Park & Lawton banked 25 points from their home date with Cheadle.

Scott Cheadle (66no) and David Wellings (58) both made half-centuries to underpin Rode Park & Lawton’s progress to 176-7 declared.

Jack Degg top-scored with 28 after tea, but there wasn’t a big score to boost Cheadle’s hopes and they were dismissed for 148.

Neil Crump rolled back the years with 4-25 and fellow experienced campaigner Andrew Marshall scooped 3-25.

Moddershall & Oulton seconds won by three wickets at Sandbach.

Set 180 for victory, Muhammad Ilyas made 86 and Rob Spruce added 38 to steer them to their target. Jack Kesteven claimed 4-42.

The defeat was harsh on Gareth Lennon, who had earlier compiled 100 in their 179-9.

Lennon struck 12 fours, but Ilyas’ 3-32 checked the home side’s progress.