ANOTHER emphatic victory for Widnes, this time by 10 wickets against Cheadle Hulme.
With Toft also winning Widnes still need another 11 points from their two remaining fixtures to be certain of joining the premiership next season.
Winning the toss Andrew Woods asked Cheadle Hulme to bat. Their opening pair of Murrills and Beckley were untroubled by the early pace attack of Dyson and Hurdley.
The introduction of Bappa Mukherjee altered the complexion of things. Beckley drove his first ball straight for four but was beaten and bowled by the off spinners arm ball two balls later.
Three overs later Mukherjee struck again with Simon Tabb taking a catch at short square leg to dismiss Wilde. Murrills and McCabe took the Cheadle Hulme score on to 63 before Steven Titchard aided by a fine diving catch by Ian Spencer, dismissed Murrills for 36.
Ewan McRay, Cheadle Hulme's danger man hit three fours and then a six off Mukherjee but the Indian spinner had his revenge bowling McCray with his faster arm ball.
Dyson returned to allow Mukherjee to change ends and took a wicket with his first ball.
Spencer took another fine catch to dismiss Barderson. Changing ends gave Mukherjee a new lease of life.
He bowled Australian McCabe for 44 and then with the help of catches by Hurdley and Catterall took his tally to six wickets. Danny Moore chipped in with a late wicket as Cheadle elected to declare after 50 overs at 170 for nine. Mukherjee's six wickets came from 20 overs at a cost of 54.
On an excellent batting wicket Widnes were optimistic they could reach the required target but Hurdley and Catterall held to survive some fierce fast bowling from Cheadle Hulme's fine Australian all rounder McCabe. Progress was slow but sensibly the Widnes opening pair were taking no chances.
Hurdley reached his fifth half-century of the league campaign and shortly afterwards Catterall followed suit. With victory in sight Catterall was dropped at mid-wicket but there were no further alarms as a 10-wicket victory was achieved with five overs to spare.
This Saturday Widnes visit Congleton with a 12.30pm start. The second XI entertain Congleton seconds.
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