LAST Wednesday, on a fine wicket at Elworth Cricket Club, Nantwich and Holmes Chapel produced a fitting finale to the Midweek League Knockout, with Nantwich eventually emerging winners with only one ball to spare.

On what started out an overcast evening, the teams wisely agreed to reduce the game to 18 overs a side.

Holmes Chapel elected to bat first and were quickly into the runs, putting to the sword a bowling attack four leagues their senior.

After nine overs, Holmes Chapel were 78-1 and would have been hoping for a total upward of 150.

But they could not maintain the pace and through some shrewd bowling in the second half of the innings, principally from A. Newton (2-13), Nantwich held them to a total of 119-6. Wood was top scorer for Holmes Chapel with 46.

Nantwich started slowly in response, struggling for runs, and were only 49-1 at the halfway stage.

A crucial partnership between Simms (22) and Maynard (30) increased the pace, before Maynard fell to an extraordinary catch by Connor in the deep.

However, Tibbetts (23 no) continued the good work and despite needing 11 runs an over off the last four overs, Nantwich made it home off the penultimate ball of the match.

M.Brandon, although conceding the winning runs, produced the best bowling figures for Holmes Chapel with 3-21.

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