Rain can't stop Cheadle from clinching place in big Phoenix showdown

C HEADLE became the first team to qualify for the Coors Brewers Phoenix 15 finals day ... without bowling a ball.

The Tean Road side, the only remaining undefeated team in this year's competition, saw their mid-week match at Barlaston called off due to a flooded ground.

But the two points awarded still puts them in an unassailable position in Zone D, rectifying matters from 2011 when they were narrowly pipped in the round robin stages.

The weather did allow play in Zone A, however, where the battle for the top spot, and with it the right to host finals day on Sunday, August 5, is heating up.

Porthill Park beat leaders Wood Lane convincingly to draw level on points but stay second with an inferior run rate.

Defending champions Wood Lane posted 93-4, including an unbeaten half-century from Ryan Hassett as Ben Cotton took 2-24. But George Cairns (55no) and John Hancock (37no) saw Porthill to victory in just under eight overs.

Bignall End were unable to match Newcastle and Hartshill in the same division as they were bowled out for 97 chasing Castle's 121-6.

Simon Wood (3-30) and James Hagan (3-22) rattled through the Bignall line-up, with Wood also claiming the run out of Usman Siddique.

Hanford were also all out for 97 in Zone C, and then unable to prevent Wedgwood and Stanfields from claiming victory with two overs to spare.

Joshua Edge (45) was the main man in Wedgwood's response, with three boundaries and a maximum seeing his side home with room to spare.

Simon Swift took 4-21 for Audlem against Silverdale, but still ended up on the losing side.

Audlem's 98-4 was overhauled with four balls remaining thanks to the heroics of Silverdale's last two, Kyle Kirkham (17no) and Daniel Davies (20no).

Blythe are still pushing for second place in Zone D after Dan Hammond (66) and Greg Prime (59no) starred as they posted 157-1 against Oakamoor.

Oakamoor were unable to get anywhere near their target and were dismissed for 63.

RESULTS

Zone A

BIGNALL END 97 (H Jones 38, S Wood 3-30, J Hagan 3-22); NEWCASTLE & HARTSHILL 121-6 (C Jenkins 36). Bignall End 1pt, Newcastle & Hartshill 5.

PORTHILL PARK 96-0 (G Cairns 55no, J Hancock 37no); WOOD LANE 93-4 (R Hassett 50no). Porthill Park 5pts, Wood Lane 0.

SANDYFORD v AUDLEY (match abandoned – two points each).

Zone B

AUDLEM 98-4 (R Wilson 29no); SILVERDALE 102-6 (S Swift 4-21). Audlem 1pt, Silverdale 5.

Zone C

WEDGWOOD & STANFIELDS 99-5 (J Edge 45), HANFORD (M Coxon 32, M Nadim 3-8). Wedgwood 5pts, Hanford 1,

HEM HEATH v STONE and OULTON v MEAKINS (matches abandoned – two points each).

Zone D

BLYTHE 157-1 (D Hammond 66, G Prime 59no), OAKAMOOR 63 (J Wood 27, P Finch 3-19). Blythe 5pts, Oakamoor 0.

CAVERSWALL v MODDERSHALL and BARLASTON v CHEADLE (matches abandoned – two points each).