TIMPERLEY’S first XI got back to winning ways in the Cheshire County Cricket League Premier Division with a nail-biting win at home to Toft last weekend.

After winning the toss, the visitors elected to bat first but found themselves in trouble when Tyrone Lawrence took the first six wickets of the innings to leave Toft struggling at 90-6.

There were important lower-order contributions from Scott Craig and Joe Gates which allowed Toft to reach a respectable 190 all out. Lawrence, with figures of 6-36, was the standout performer for the home side.

Timperley’s reply began steadily with opener Danny Cooper accumulating 45 – the highest individual score of the day.

At 81-3, the hosts were the favourites to claim the points but Toft fought back to take three quick wickets to leave Timperley on 118-6, still needing 73 runs for victory.

A crucial partnership of 44 between Nathan Brown and Rudolf Brenner got the team back on track only for Toft to hit back once again with a further flurry of wickets.

At 185-9, it was down to Brown, who finished unbeaten on 34, and Chris Page to get Timperley over the line to secure all 25 points and move them to within 17 points of Toft.

The club’s second XI were beaten by league leaders Toft despite a valiant half-century from youngster Jamie Matthews. Bowling first, Timperley managed to restrict the hosts to 187 with four wickets apiece for Andy Horsfield and Shahnawaz Khan.

In reply, Toft showed their class as they bowled out the visitors for 142, Matthews top-scoring with 54 and Nigel Muirhead taking 3-12 for the victors.

There was success for the third XI who defeated Chelford by seven wickets.

Captain Vipul Garg top-scored with an unbeaten 55 as Timperley chased down 166 for the win.