Cricket: Knypersley break their duck with excellent run chase

KNYPERSLEY ended their long wait for a win with a six-wicket success at Cheadle.

Jon Cumberbatch's side had drawn a blank in their opening six matches, but rediscovered their touch at Tean Road.

It was no walk in the park, either, after Cheadle posted 188 all out, despite losing the toss.

Derbyshire second team captain Garry Park (41) and Staffordshire's David Wheeldon (37) were the mainstays of the home side's innings as Kevin Cockerton took 4-58.

The visitors were in a spot of bother when they slipped to 56-3 in the run chase.

But a 111-run fourth-wicket stand between Nayyar Abbas and Paul Goodwin left them within touching distance of the 20 points. Abbas was eventually dismissed for 79, but county skipper Goodwin remained unbeaten on 47 to see Knypersley home.

Winning hasn't been a problem for Leek, and the leaders racked up their sixth in seven outings at Hem Heath.

Half-centuries from Brian Sims (61no) and John Cheadle (59), which formed a third-wicket stand of 106, enabled Hem Heath to amass 183-7.

However, their progress was slowed by Colin Dearden, who claimed 5-52.

Chasing down totals has been a nerve-jangling experience at times for Leek, but Tom Steele (62no) and Chris Beech (51) showed composure to seal a seven-wicket win.

They are now 24 points clear at the top, but Checkley are clinging on to their coat tails following another impressive chapter in their top-flight return against Little Stoke.

Daniel Amos took 3-47, but 84 from HassanRaza and valuable support from Richard Adams (56) propelled winless Little Stoke to 185-6.

Daniel Colclough (3-55) raised hopes of victory for the second-bottom visitors, but Checkley's Michael Allen (72), Danny Spasic (45) and Alvin Beardmore (34) dashed those expectations to clinch a six-wicket win.

Audley moved into the sanctuary of mid-table by condemning bottom-of-the-table Burslem to their fourth defeat of the season.

Kevin Mountford (35), Steven Lowndes (33) and Michael Rowley (31) impressed in Burslem's 179 all out.

However, spin twins Gary Latham and Andy Johnson captured 3-44 and 3-63 respectively to stunt their progress.

Slow left-armer Michael Brown (3-51) repaid the favour with a triple blast of his own, but 32 from Hamza Siddique and David Freeman's 31 sealed a two-wicket win.

Porthill Park's Dan Hancock produced a man-of-the-match display, but his side had to be content with a draw at Stone.

Hancock compiled 104, including nine boundaries, in Porthill Park's 233-8.

He added 143 for the fourth wicket with Fahad Masood, who contributed a run-a-ball 75.

Half-centuries from James Dawson (70) and Richard Harvey (65) left Stone well placed on 111-1, but the introduction of Hancock applied the brakes.

He took 4-72, and it required Matthew Coxon's late 46 to enable Stone to draw stumps on 217-8.

Longton also dug deep to deny champions Wood Lane.

Set 206 to win, paceman Asad Ali posed problems for the Longton batting line-up en route to figures of 4-40.

Steve Norcup delivered an economical spell to take 2-48 from 23 overs, but the visitors held firm to close on 121-8.

Ryan Hassett had earlier top-scored for Wood Lane with 56 as they posted 205-8.

He was well supported by Danny Brierley (43) and Jamie Jervis (40), while Craig Barker picked up 4-54.