TWO outstanding individual performances and a strong team effort ensured Northwich maintained their promotion chase at the weekend.

Wistaston won the toss and opted to bat first - putting Northwich's bowlers in the unenviable position of working in a sweltering heat.

Peter Gibbon, on his return to the club after a three-week absence, took 3-42, but was outdone by John O'Sullivan, who returned figures of 7-71 in 17.3 overs and the visitors were 162 all out at 47.3 overs.

After tea, fielding appeared to have taken its toll on Northwich's openers O'Sullivan and Andrew Pickstock and when teenager Ashley Sefton departed at 38-3, the heat seemed to be too much to bear.

The turning point came when John Hughes paired up with Ant Shaw.

The last 100 runs came in 14 overs and the last 24 runs in five balls, with Shaw hitting 11 fours and 5 sixes to score 93no.

Hughes scored 34no and Northwich won with 168-3 off 27.5 overs.

The result keeps Northwich in third place and sets up an important match against second place Trinity.