WINSFORD 1st XI are still in the hunt for promotion after a four wicket victory over bottom of the table Wirral.

Winsford won the toss and sent Wirral in to bat, where a motor-bikers rock festival held nearby was bound to affect concentration.

It took seven overs for bowler Mark Dean to break through, this being the catalyst to his superb start of four wickets in the space of three overs for just 12 runs.

Wirral battled back from 25-5 to 90-8 through Watt and Peel (26) and slowly rebuilt the innings.

Winsford then found some difficulty in finishing their opponents off, with their usually reliable spin bowlers losing 50 runs in eight overs. With the partnership of Watt and Peel broken, Brandon took the last three Wirral wickets for 11 runs.

Winsford started their innings after the tea break with their ears taking a break from the relentless rock music. As in the Wirral innings the new ball caused problems and Winsford lost Phillips (0), Clarke (7), and Nicholas (8) and were struggling on 18.

A 67-run partnership from Crellin and Barrett turned the game back in Winsford's favour, but this was not so much the case when Winsford lost three quick wickets and collapsed to 98-6. Crellin's innings of 37 contained five boundaries and Barrett's 35 had six boundaries.

Following the falls of Crellin and Barrett, Wirral seemed lifted and were putting pressure on new batsmen Smith and Whitney.

Whitney (19), and Smith (5), took control however and eased Winsford to a four wicket win with 14 overs to spare.