ALSAGER produced their best performance of the season on Saturday to spring a major surprise at third-placed Cheadle Hulme.

Alsager made a reasonable 163 all out after coming in first, but it was their bowlers that really did the damage, dismissing Cheadle Hulme for 138.

The excellent win earned Alsager 23 points to seven for Cheadle.

Alsager number four Paul Tibbetts top scored for his side with 34, ahead of 27 from overseas player Eddie Burnett, in at number nine, and 25 from opener Paul Radage.

Alsager were in dire straits at six for one, 16 for two and worse still 50 for five.

However they fought back well thanks to 30-plus stands between Tibbetts and Ken South and skipper Steve Armitage and Burnett.

Cheadle also got off to a terrible start in reply, being reduced to 11 for two, and losing wickets at regular intervals after that to crash out to defeat.

Burnett was Alsager's leading bowler, taking four for 34, supported by two wickets each for Eddie Gilhooly and Dominic Bull, and one for Tibbetts.

"It was our best performance of the season, and we caught and bowled very well,'' said Armitage.

"We took five catches, including three from wicket keeper Andy Molyneux. Before the match we would have settled for a draw.''

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