Bratt and Smith produce remarkable Cheadle partnership

CHEADLE thirds defeated Meakins fourths in NSSCL Division Eight at the weekend - and there was a remarkable ninth-wicket stand in the encounter.

The Moorlanders were 137-8 after Justin Welford had made 77 - before Euan Bratt and Finlay Smith compiled a stunning partnership.

They put on 154 before being parted as Cheadle eventually posted 297-9.

Bratt was dismissed for 74, while Smith was unbeaten on 59 at the end of the innings.

Meakins could only reach 46 all out in reply as Bratt competed a top individual day with 3-7 and David Wilson picked up 3-10.

Cheadle are in second place in the table, but their title hopes are over as they trail leaders Audlem by 15 points with just one match to play.

Audlem made it nine wins on the bounce - and need just a point to be champions - after an easy win at Crewe. Audlem opted to bat and racked up 216-5 on the back of Chris Shenton’s 72, featuring 11 fours, Atiq Hashmi’s 47 not out and 33 from Howard Jones.

Crewe saw several batsmen make starts - Steven Bickerton top-scored with 25 - but they were dismissed for 100.

Simon Swift produced a superb spell with the ball to finish with 5-2, with Neil Humphries (3-17) also playing his part.

Stafford fourths beat Porthill Park fifths by 14 runs. Jake Stewart’s 32 was the main contribution to Stafford’s 124 all out, in which Niall Redman took 4-23 and William Booth claimed 3-26. Kane Lowton replied with 27, but 4-14 from Kannan Bhuvananachandran left Park 110 all out.