Oulton Park’s batting woes continue

A 160-run defeat at Alderley Edge on Saturday was their third in seven days, and on each occasion Oulton Park have struggled to score runs.

Dismissed for 112 at Neston, they fell for 114.

In between, an inspired Jimmy Warrington had knocked them over for 65 in a Joseph Holt Brewery T20 group-stage decider on Thursday.

There won’t be panic at Pinfold Lane, but there is likely to be head-scratching after the previous eight games had ended in victory.

They remain in the Cheshire County League Premier Division’s top four, and a home date with Cheadle next Saturday is an opportunity to resume normal service.

Weaverham’s outlook is different after another victory

What a difference a week makes.

While Weaverham were favourites to beat struggling Runcorn last weekend, they were anything but when they headed to Warrington on Saturday.

Their hosts had lost only one of their first eight games since dropping down to the Cheshire County League’s third division, and felt confident that statistic wouldn’t change after declaring on 192-6.

It was a miscalculation, for captain Ian Eaton (61no) and Jake Lightfoot, his understudy, both scored a half-century in the Russets’ winning reply.

The men from Wallerscote Road hadn’t won back-to-back league games since August 2016.

In praise of Lee Evans

A young Northwich team is happy to have Lee Evans back in the fold.

His ton during a draw with Mobberley at Moss Farm on Saturday reinforces why, and follows a half-century against Tattenhall a fortnight earlier.

Evans made his first-team debut in 2005, and was a regular in each of the past two seasons before stopping midway through last summer.

An asset in the field too, if he can continue to reproduce the form he has since returning then captain James Plant will feel assured he has a guarantee of runs from the middle-order.

Kingsley remain on upward curve

An eye-catching win against in-form Congleton earlier this month appears to have inspired Toby Mullins’ men.

They have followed that victory with two more, against Lymm and Barnton, and sit fifth in the Cheshire League’s top-flight after nine matches.

The skipper told the Guardian during an interview that he expects inconsistency from a side adjusting to life at a higher level following their promotion as champions last season.

Their progress on the pitch will be examined further when they visit pace-setting Stockport Georgians next Saturday, a trip they make with confidence boosted by recent performances.

Park’s life has been better the past month

Alec Butcher said last month that Winnington had not been their true selves in the early stages of a new season.

A 55-run victory at Woodford on Saturday is their third in the past four matches, and has propelled Park into the Cheshire League Division Two table’s top-five.

The captain’s form at the crease has been one factor; he has passed 50 in each of the past two games and has 300 runs for the season.

However their bowling attack has been most productive; Jonny Wales and Michael Dunning both have two five-wicket hauls to their name, while Iain Connor and Sam Barnes are also into double-figures for victims taken.

Middlewich captain’s words ring true

Phil Parry told the Guardian last week that Middlewich were steelier now, and his players continue to prove him right.

A comfortable win at struggling Irby on Saturday is their fourth in the league this season, and they have now lost only one of their past seven Division Two matches.

Parry led by example at the weekend, taking five wickets, as his side again bowled out the opposition relatively cheaply.

He will crave more runs from his batsmen – only Richard Clorley has more than 200 to his name so far – but after three successive relegations there are finally signs of a recovery at Haddon Field.