TOFT...200 for 7 dec 48 overs

Alsager...201 for 6

TOFT Cricket Club were asked to take the first knock as Alsager won the toss and were soon on the defensive when Sheldon was clean-bowled for 0.

With a total on six he was quickly followed by Richard Hardstaff leg before wicket for four.

Muirhead and Bones then mounted a recovery and carried the score to 81 before Bones departed leg before wicket and straight away Muirhead followed caught for 54.

At this stage with the score at 87 for 4 the match was finely balanced but when two further wickets went down and the score had only advanced to 113 the outlook for Toft was not promising.

However, in contrast to last week the middle order, in the shape of Blackburn and Cornes, knuckled down and by means of some good fortune and several lusty blows put on 86 runs before Blackburn was caught at deep square leg for 49 with the total at 199 for 7.

Attack

One run later the innings closed with Cornes 28 not out.

With eight overs lost through rain, the Alsager innings was reduced to 44 overs.

The batsmen set off at a rate of eight runs per over largely encouraged by a spate of half volleys from the Toft opening attack and after seven overs the score had raced to 57.

Cornes and Muirhead helped put the brakes on the run-rate and soon wickets began to fall and at 93 for 5 Toft were well placed to force a win.

Blackburn took a good outfield catch to claim the sixth wicket, but another 51 runs had been scored.

This was Toft's final success and a further 57 runs accrued to the Alsager total to give them a well-earned victory by four wickets.

Toft's bowling figures were Muirhead 2 for 59, Cornes 2 for 39, Ryan 1 for 29 and J Noble 1 for 32.