HARTFORD 1sts ran out worthy winners at rivals Radbroke Hall on Saturday.

Matt Shinkfield carried on from where he left off against Sandbach, firing 44 as the mid Cheshire team successfully chased 189 for victory.

Earlier his side's bowlers had laid the foundations after losing the toss.

Brian Harkin (3-63) toiled throughout the entire Radbroke innings, playing a major part in restricting the hosts to 188-6 from their allotted overs.

The absence of last week's centurion Geoff Sharp provoked a change in the Hartford batting order, which seemed to have backfired badly when both openers were dispatched without scoring.

Shinkfield was still at his aggressive best, but prospects for a win looked bleak at 102-6.

Harkin (28) then joined in-form Martin Hill at the crease and they shared a 70-run stand to see Hartford safely home.

Hill hit an unbeaten 50, helping himself to the final boundary of the game as Hartford finished on 192-7 to take maximum points.

They now lie seventh in the Cheshire Cricket Alliance, nine points behind Aston place ahead of them.

Captain Rob Whittle takes his team to Norbury on Saturday, when they will hope to make it three wins in a row after edging out Sandbach and Radbroke Hall in the past fortnight.

A win could take them into the top half of the table.