MIDDLEWICH maintained their position at the top of the Meller Braggins league with another comfortable home win against Runcorn on Saturday.

Winning the toss and putting the visitors in to bat Middlewich had an early success when opener Booth was well caught in the slips by Adam Kelly off the bowling of Stuart Price.

However, they had to wait a considerable period before any further wickets were to fall as Farmer and Cahill put together a partnership of 73 runs, taking Runcorn to a relatively healthy position of 75-1.

Left arm spinner Phil Davies was already 10 overs into another lengthy spell when he struck to remove both Farmer and Cahill and the visitors' innings crumbled quickly thereafter.

Davies went on to collect six wickets for just 34 runs from 18 overs as the Runcorn innings closed on 122-8.

With regular opener David Bates missing from the team Nick Lee was promoted to the top of the order and responded in fine style with a knock of 36 runs.

Andy Cole joined Dave Parry and saw Middlewich to victory without further loss. Cole finished on 29no and Parry on 51no as the home side reached 123 for the loss of a single wicket.

Middlewich took 20 points from the match and next Saturday travel to Alvanley looking to keep top spot in the league.