HIGHFLYING Alsager have league leaders Macclesfield in their sights after an exceptional batting display on Saturday at Brooklands.

Darren Long and Ken South produced their best scores of the season to lift their side to third in the league, 24 points behing Macclesfield.

Long smashed 91, which included 13 fours and two sixes, with South close behind on 81, out of an Alsager total of 291 all out, the highest score in the league this season.

Gareth Rowe weighed in with four wickets as Alsager bowled out their opponents for 154 in 39 overs.

''We produced some good batting, although we did punish mediocre bowling at times,'' said Alsager captain Steve Armitage.

''Gareth Rowe is proving to be one of the best bowlers in the league, and we stand an outside chance of winning the league in the form we're in at the moment.''

South hit his total off only 84 balls, part of a century partnership with Long after Alsager had reached 105 for four.

Armitage made 32 against ninth-placed opponents, and Andy Barber hit a quick 25 off 28 balls.

Rowe's four wickets took his haul for the season to 25, and he was supported by three for 32 from Eddie Burnett, two for Eddie Gilhooley and a wicket for Paul Tibbetts.

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