TIMPERLEY continued their excellent start to the season, with a winning draw at third-placed Toft in the Cheshire County Cricket League Premier Division.

Toft captain James Lomas won the toss and asked Timperley to bat first on a flat-looking wicket and they lost Grant Hodnett (eight) early.

But they made serene progress after that, scoring at will with Furqan Shafiq looking a class apart to back up his midweek cup century with a mammoth 135 off 134 balls.

He was ably assisted by first Abhishek Kulkarni (46) and latterly last week's centurion Brooke Guest, who managed an outstanding  94 this time round to take him top of the league's batting averages (94.5 from six innings).

It proved hard work for the Toft bowlers, as Timperley pushed on to reach a sizeable 362-6 from their allocated 55 overs. 

Forcing a victory on such a placid surface was always going to be a tall order, but Chris Page (1-69) provided some hope with the early wicket of James Drummond, lbw for six.

It was not to be, though, as captain Lomas and Lancashire’s Rob Jones combined for a second-wicket partnership of 168.

Lomas fell to Jack White (2-71), but Jones continued to 127 before Shafiq backed up his century with his vital wicket to prevent Toft making any realistic attempt at chasing such a large total. 

The game petered out into a rather tame draw, Toft finishing 57 runs short at 305-4.

With the halfway point appearing on the horizon Timperley have moved 20 points clear at the top of the table and will hope for no let up as they host Marple at Stockport Road on Saturday.