APPLETON lost by four wickets at home to Woodford in Cheshire Cricket Alliance Divison One Appleton scored 178 for 7, with Rickie Clarke scoring 64 and Ant Hurst adding 37.

Woodford made 180 for 6, with L Stoll taking 3 for 50.

In Division Three, Appleton’s second XI won by eight wickets at Eastham, who were dismissed for 87 with E Pugh taking 5 for 29.

Appleton lost only two wickets in chasing down the total.

The club’s fourth string drew at title contenders Woodford, who declared after 41 overs with a total of 248 for 5.

When Emma Barlow came to the crease in the 17th over with Appleton on 50 for 4 it looked an impossible task to get anything out of the game.

But she supported Eitchy Rashid superbly as the two put on 56 for the fifth wicket.

Barlow may only have hit eight in that partnership but she had helped Eitchy add another 40 runs to his total to reach 68, his second half century of the season, before he was trapped leg before wicket.

Barlow fell having faced 61 balls, finally being adjudged leg before wicket on 14, her highest score for the fourths in her ninth outing.

Fifteen-year-old Andy Jackson came to the wicket with Matt Lovell and both showed great maturity and resilience to see out the remaining seven overs to ensure Appleton did not lose.