by Dave Knapper

FAZL-E-Akbar's lethal bowling helped Porthill Park to victory over Moddershall and keeps his side firmly in the title picture.

The Pakistan Test Player, pictured, claimed 6-24 as Moddershall finished on a disappointing 81-all out from just 28.1 overs.

Robert Bagnall provided some solace for the home side with 25 runs, including four fours before being caught by Matt Farr.

Aaron Brunt helped fire Porthill to victory with a score of 21 not out, with David Ferris (16), Matt Rogalski (13) and Fazl-E-Akbar (14) also doing their part.

Burslem dampened Longton's title charge by claiming a winning draw at Festival Heights.

The home side won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Alex Thorley's excellent contribution of 49 runs, including three fours and six sixes, was added to by fellow batsmen Roger Sillence (35), Michael Longmore (39) and Andrew Kenvyn (20 not out).

Anthony Sheeran was in impressive form for Burslem taking 3-22.

Opening batsmen for Burslem were captain Christopher Lowndes and Christopher Roberts.

The pair put 28 runs on before Lowndes (22) went out through an LBW from Dave Edwards Jnr and Roberts (6) was caught by Michael Longmore.

But he impressive Luke Woodcock (40 not out) and Michael Brown (42 not out) put the home team on the way to a total of 117-3 from 32 overs.

Clinical batsmen Michael Hall fired 85 not out, including 13 fours, to hand an ideal start for Hem Heath in their winning draw over Leek. His total was added to by Brian Sims (17) and Stephen Atkinson (21 not out).

Kevin Stoute and Richard Cooper claimed two wickets apiece to keep the run total down.

Hem Heath finished on 182-6 from 60 overs.

It was a disappointing innings from the away side in reply with just Kevin Stoute (20) and James Thompson (17) adding any noteable runs to the total.

Leek ended with 87-7 from 43 overs.

The rain put paid to the game between Wood Lane and Leycett to leave the fixture a draw.

The circling clouds would have deeply frustrated the home side who had the division's top spot in their sights.

However Wood Lane made a disappointing start with opening batsmen Matt Burgess and captain Matthew Hagan notching just nine runs, with Burgess responsible for them all.

It was the clinical bowling of Robert Heath that was clearly troubling the home team.

With Burgess out from an LBW and Hagan caught by Dinesh Darshanpriya, Richard Hassall was then stumped by Lee Jarvis.

However, an unbeaten 112 from professional Ashar Zaidi put Wood Lane back in the driving site after those three destructive wickets from Leycett bowler Robert Heath had threatened to knock the highflying Megacre outfit off target.

Jeff Maynard smashed his way to 53 before being caught by Lee Jarvis, to add to Zaidi's inspiring total.

Following the haul by Maynard and Zaidi, Wood Lane declared on 186-4 from 44.4 overs.

Clinical bowling fromThe home side's Steve Norcup, claimed two wickets, and Mustafa Bashir kept Leycett down to 49 runs before rain forced a draw.

Little Stoke continued to close the gap on the chasing pack with victory over Audley at the Sid Jenkins Ground. John Hancock and Richard Adams gave the home side a rip roaring start.

Hancock smashed 56 not out, while Adams scored 57 before being ran out.

With the visitors understandably rattled, Andrew Johnson brought the tie back in the visitor's reach by disposing of Richard Harvey, Dan Hancock, Nick Bratt, and captain Gareth Morris with a quick fire 4-60.

Little Stoke declared at 177-5 from 50 overs. Coming in to bat, Audley stood little chance and were with Daniel Colclough in devastating form.

Colclough took 7-48, with Nick Bratt also claiming three wickets to leave Audley all out with 96 runs from 38.5 overs.