HOLDERS Wallasey sent Middlewich comprehensively crashing out of the Quinn Foden Cheshire Cup at the quarter-final stage on Sunday.

Middlewich bowled and fielded impressively and a fine all round effort was rewarded by restricting their visitors to 163-8 off their 40 overs.

Nick Rushton was the pick of the bowlers with 3-26.

In reply, however, the Middlewich innings never got going. Opening bowler Ian Hemsworth took five wickets for nine runs in a devastating eight-over spell.

The heart was ripped out of the Middlewich batting and the innings ended with only 68 runs on the board, a disappointing display despite some fine bowling by their visitors.

Confidence going into this cup tie couldn't have been helped much by events the day before, when Middlewich were beaten at Stockport Georgians in the Murray Smith Cheshire County League.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Middlewich lost both openers in quick succession and were badly placed at 26-2 in the 15th over.

A partnership of 50 between David Parry and Gavin Tomlinson started a recovery, but it was a stand of 101 between Geoff Tomlinson and Dominic Simpson, both undefeated at the end of the innings, which gave the Middlewich effort real substance.

Their innings finished on 199-5 after 55 overs.

The Stockport innings got under way without any alarms, and stands were built steadily throughout.

When they reached 150-2 with overs to spare, Middlewich looked dead and buried.

However, a spirited fightback saw them claw their way back into the match, as the home side entered the last over needing eight runs with eight wickets down.

A hectic finale saw them reach their victory target without further loss, taking 20 points to Middlewich's six.

This Saturday, the Croxton Lane men host Hale Barns in the Murray Smith League.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.