RYLANDS remain unbeaten in the Cheshire Cricket Alliance Division Two after a 184-run home victory over Styal on Saturday.

After winning the toss and inviting the hosts to bat, Styal almost got off to the perfect start when opener Alan Brady mistimed a shot in the first over and the ball looped up to the fielder at mid on.

Had the catch been taken, Brady would have departed with a zero next to his name but it was spilled and he went on to brutally dispatch the Styal bowling attack to all parts of the ground before finally falling for 122.

Alongside Brady there were fine innings from fellow opener Eddie Platt (41) and Graeme Rowlands (61) as well as cameos from the middle order, and when Rylands declared after the loss of the 7th wicket they had 284 runs on the board and victory within sight.

Just as Brady dominated Styal with the bat, Nathan Lowe dominated them with the ball, completely blowing away their top order to finish with the impressive figures of 5/9.

The Styal lower order showed some late determination to remain at the crease, but the damage had been done and they were 185 runs short of their target when the last wicket fell, giving Rylands the 25 points they deserved as they chase promotion to division 1.