RELEGATION stares Alsager in the face after losing to visitors Neston on Saturday with only nine balls left.

Darren Long and Jason Jinks scored 47 and 44 respectively as Alsager opened with 162 all out.

However Neston squeezed past the winning post with 163 for eight, an unbeaten knock of 38 by number eight Beaver proving crucial.

Alsager were 36 for four before Long and Jinks took the total to 127.

Paul Adams scored 24, and Ken South contributed 20.

Gary Pickford earned his second best wicket haul of the season with six for 76, backed by two for Dominic Bull.

Alsager earned 10 points to 20 for Neston.

Worse was to come on Sunday as Alsager were crushed at home by Oxton in the quarter final of the 1st X1 Cup.

Oxton opener Saunders hit 128 not out as his side opened with 204 for nine.

Trevor Newbould took three wickets, and there were two each for Gary Pickford and Shaun Woolley.

Alsager managed just 120 all out in reply, Jinks top scoring with 40, ahead of 23 from Gary Pickford.

Alsager never really recovered from a terrible start which saw them reduced to 18 for four.

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