BOWDON 1stXI won a tough game on Saturday when they beat Macclesfield at South Downs Road by four wickets in their Cheshire County League ECB Premiership match to pocket 20 points towards this year's Championiship campaign.

Prolonged rain during the week led to a late change in the choice of pitch and the playing conditions were very uncomfortable as Bowdon won the toss and asked Macclesfield to bat first.

The visitors put on 30 runs for the first wicket but then the Bowdon spinners took control and all 10 wickets fell for 64 runs as Macclesfield slumped to 94 all out from 49 overs.

Gorse confirmed his position as the current leading spin bowler at Bowdon with 5 for 24 from 13 overs, while Neil Cross backed him up with 4 for 30 from 20 overs.

It was never going to be easy for Bowdon to get the runs and after an hour's batting they found themselves on 34 for 4 with several top batsmen back in he hutch.

This was the moment for prevously out-of-form Jonathan Gray to join Cross in a match-winning partnership of 40 runs ground out in the next hour.

Cross made 44 (1 six and 4 fours) and while Jon Gray made only 13 it was an innings full of character and determination which helped to turn the whole game in Bowdon's favour.

In the end Bowdon reached 95 for 6 wickets with three overs to spare to clinch their second league victory of the season and to move back into the top half of the table.

Meanwhile Bowdon 2ndXI achieved a crushing win at Macclesfield.

The home team were all out for 67 (youngster Ben Allott 6 for 10; Colin Byrne 3 for 19) after which Bowdon soon reached 68 for 3 (Ian Cross 37; Ian Claridge 17 n.o.) to pick up 20 points.

The accurate bowling was backed by three brilliant slip catches by skipper Tony Dawson.

On Sunday Bowdon 1stXI cruised to a 99-run victory over Warrington 1stXI in the first round of this year's Cheshire K/O Cup.

Batting first the home team raced to 209 for 5 wickets in their 40 overs, with Lancashire star Richard Green leading the way with 58 (1 six and 7 fours) backed by Nathan Wood (26), Jonathan Gray (36 not out) and skipper Steve Bramhall (25).

Warrington's innings never achieved the necessary momentum and they could only each 110 for 6 wickets, being tied down by the tight Bowdon bowling.

Karl Gorse took 2 for 15 from 8 overs, Neil Cross 2 for 14 from 6 overs while Tony Dawson showed his all-round skills with 1 for 11 to help Bowdon through to the second round of the cup.