BROOKLANDS first XI won at Congleton to ensure a top-half finish in Division Two of the Cheshire County Cricket League.

Bowling first, Brooklands dismissed their hosts for 98.

Caleb Jones carried on his recent good form taking 5-58, with support from Christian Potter (4-2-2-2) and AJ Hart (2-38), while Raj Singh got a wicket with one of only two balls he was required to bowl.

Ben Scowen (50) was the only batsman who sought to make it competitive.

The chase was more tense than it needed to be as Brooklands’ top order again let them down and they were soon 31-4. However, debutant Mark Bloomfield hit 36 off 28 balls, including seven fours, to ease the tension.

Dave Madden (19 not out off 59 balls) ensured he was there at the end.

Jack Goode (3-48) was the bowler who did the most damage to Brooklands.

Brooklands are now fourth in the table knowing if they better Stockport’s result in their final game, at home to bottom club Middlewich, they will finish third.

The second XI’s recent poor results have played them into a relegation battle and this continued at home to Grappenhall where they lost and failed to gain a single point.

Batting first, the second XI were bundled out for 105.

From the top eight, only Richard Palmer (40) made it past seven – there were three ducks.

The tail wagged with Tom Mitchell’s 24 and Alan Millington’s unbeaten 14.

Josh Hayes (4-21) and Matt Titchard (3-24) then opened the bowling very well.

However, the visitors knocked their target off with 25 overs to spare for the loss of just two wickets with a quickfire 49 from veteran Will Sharp and a devastating 34no from Ben Clissold.

Going into the last game, Brooklands are seventh of 12 but 14 points separate sixth from 11th.

They need a good result against already-relegated Cheadle Hulme to be sure of Division One status next season.

The third XI were taken to the last ball by Prestbury but managed to win by just seven runs defending 214 when Cameron Buchan took wickets with the final two balls.