TWO wins for Timperley first team in the weekend have helped them maintain top spot in Division One of the Cheshire County League Division One and secure a spot in the semi-final of the Cheshire Shield.

Saturday was a big game for both teams as Oulton Park (third) at home were trying to make ground on Timperley who held top spot leading into the weekend.

Oulton Park skipper Patrick Roberts won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch that looked as though it would offer some assistance for the bowlers and it certainly did early on with Jack White and Chris Page beating the bat regularly, although the Oulton Park's opening batsmen Nick James (28) and Daniel Leech (42) played the conditions very well before falling.

The first wicket fell with 67 runs on the board and the Timperley team were quick to put the pressure on, with regular wickets then falling thanks to some wonderful bowling in particular from Jack White (25-4-81-4) and Ian Grindley (12-2-35-4).

Andrew Mills (36) offered some important runs in the middle and the tail produced some helpful resistance to reach a total of 179 all out in 49.4 overs.

Timperley’s reply had the worst possible start losing Mike Ness first ball of the innings caught behind, there was a slow recovery before Daniel Cooper (21) was caught behind with the score at 37-2 and Josh Hampson (4) fell shortly after at 45-3.

Then in came skipper Craig Grindley and along with Asif Iqbal they steadied the ship.

Both began to bat very positively after drinks and it proved a very important 4th wicket partnership of 116 before Iqbal fell for a very well compiled and classy knock of 75 off 128 balls in what was a match winning innings along with Grindley’s skippers knock of 69*.

Opening bowler Guy Emmett was the pick of the bowlers with 19-4-54-3.

Timperley knocked the runs off five wickets down with three overs remaining to hold on to first place heading into the halfway point of the season.

On Sunday, Timperley travelled to Alvanley in the quarter-final of the Cheshire Shield.

Timperley went into the fixture as favourites and never looked in doubt as they reached a target of 241 (Asif Iqbal 89, Jack White 40, Craig Grindley 29).

Alvanley chasing managed 131 In reply to give Timperley the win and set up a semi-final showdown at home against either Middlewich or Romiley on July 12th.