ELWORTH CC's short stay in NSSC Premier Division ended in a rain-hit encounter with Burslem.

Dave Palin weighed in with a captain's innings of 71 to set up a respectable two ton total but heavy downpours ensured no play after tea.

Relegation after just one season back in the top flight is a bitter blow for the London Road outfit, knocked off course in their quest for consolidation by a dismal second half to the season.

Palin and Phil Cross shared a 90-run stand for the fourth wicket to get Elworth to a decent 200-7 but the bowlers didn't get a chance to do any damage due to rain.

The skipper's excellent innings was also backed up with meaty contributions from Ian Mitchell (46) and Rob Beech (35) while Burslem's star was Chris Roberts with 3-28.

Elworth finished up 20 points adrift of safety and behind third-bottom Porthill Park.

l Hat-trick hero Saeed Khan saw Weston maintain a strong finish to their NSD League Senior A season.

His heroics with both bat and ball destroyed the title hopes of hosts Silverdale.

Nasir Khan top scored with 39 as they went for the win they needed, declaring on 122-6.

Khan continued his awesome season, claiming 5-56 including sport's hardest treble before anchoring Weston's reply.

His unbeaten 58 saw them through to a five-wicket win, closing on 123-5.

Weston's 20 points takes them now well clear of the bottom four.

They end the season at home to Ashcombe Park on Saturday.

l Nantwich will be playing ECB Premier cricket again in 2006.

Rain halted their attempts for a third successive upset, this time at champs Oulton Park.

Despite in-form Kiwi James De Terte among those to go cheaply, Jeff Maynard stepped up to the plate.

His superb innings of 93 saw the Dabbers through to 191-6 from 50 overs with Chris Hampshire unbeaten on 22.

The only team to beat Oulton this season, Nantwich saw hopes of a repeat ended by the downpours.

Robinson (24) and Leech (8) had steered them to 32-0 before rain led to the fixture abandoned.

With Chester Broughton Hall down and Poynton all but doomed, Nantwich's recent revival keeps them firmly in Cheshire County Cricket League's top flight for next season.

Amazingly they could finish fifth if results go their way along with a victory at Hyde on Saturday.