TIMPERLEY capped an excellent first half of the season with a 199-run thrashing of Didsbury in the ECB 1st XI Premier Division.

Nathan Brown won the toss and elected to make first use of a flat-looking wicket in glorious batting conditions at Stockport Road. 

Timperley’s batsmen did not disappoint. Furqan Shafiq continued his fine run of form with a fluent 61, to share an opening partnership of 85.

Opening partner Grant Hodnett was to be the star of the show this weekend, though, with a brilliant 138 from 134 balls, including 15 fours, and six sixes – one of which had to be retrieved from the road.

Hodnett’s brutal hitting set the platform, and despite a flurry of wickets falling as Timperley looked to press for an early declaration, skipper Brown was happy with his side's 303-7 from just 49 overs.

Safe to say it was a tough afternoon for the Didsbury bowling attack in unforgiving conditions. 

Timperley knew they would have to bowl well to create 10 chances on a true surface and Cheshire opener Jack White was in the mood to prove exactly why he is the top wicket-taker in the division with an exceptional display of pace bowling.

His 6-36 from 8.4 overs blew away Didsbury and means his 36 league wickets have been taken at a mere 10.4 apiece.

Opening partner Chris Page chipped in with 2-16 and Didsbury were all out for 104 from just 23.4 overs.

It has been a truly remarkable first half of the season which sees Timperley lead Nantwich by 20 points after the first round of fixtures.

There will be high hopes for a successful second half, which starts against Oulton Park on Saturday at Stockport Road.