MIDDLEWICH successfully defended the Quinn Thomas Cheshire Shield at Parkfield (Wallasey) on Sunday after another excellent all round display including a match winning innings of 64no from David Bates.

Parkfield enjoyed home advantage after winning the earlier toss to decide the venue and a good-sized crowd, including a large travelling contingent from Middlewich, gathered to watch the contest.

Gavin Tomlinson won the toss for the visitors and put Parkfield in to bat.

Tomlinson and Stuart Price started brightly with the ball but openers Keogh and Hughes weathered the storm and took the home side on to 24 without loss.

Just as they were looking settled Price produced a gem of a delivery to give wicketkeeper Chris Broomfield his first victim of the day with a smart catch to remove the dangerous looking Hughes for 16.

From there on the Middlewich bowlers dominated proceedings as first Jon Shepherd and then Stephen Parry and Phil Davies bowled with great accuracy which, allied to finding considerable movement from the pitch, caused the Parkfield batsmen all manner of problems.

Shepherd in particular bowled impressively and beat the bat on numerous occasions on the way to collecting his three wickets.

Stephen Parry gave valuable support at the other end and picked up two wickets as the Parkfield middle order could find no answers to the problems posed and disintegrated to 48-5.

The introduction of Phil Davies into the attack brought no respite either as he too immediately found a good line and length, ultimately being rewarded with another three-wicket haul.

Special mention must be made of wicketkeeper Broomfield who kept magnificently taking three stumpings and catches.

Some big hitting from McClennan boosted the Parkfield innings but a final total of 118 was a disappointing effort for the home club.

Middlewich, on the other hand, were delighted to have restricted their hosts to this modest score and their own innings got off to a good start as David Bates batted with great fluency on his way to the match winning innings.

Partnerships of 37, 30 and 43 with David Parry, Andy Cole and Stephen Parry respectively set the foundations for a comfortable victory.

The winning runs were fittingly hit by man of the match Bates who ended on 64no from a total of 119-3.

Gavin Tomlinson collected the Cheshire Shield from the sponsors, following in his father Geoff's footsteps of 12 months ago, and David Bates received deserved acclaim as he stepped forward to accept the man of the match trophy.