Spendlove keeps Cheshire in the hunt

Ben Spendlove crashed a brilliant century for Cheshire as the defending minor counties champions sought to keep pace with Wales Minor Counties on the second day of their three-day championship clash at Chester Boughton Hall Cricket Club yesterday.

The Oulton Park batsman top-scored for the hosts with a spirited 145 from just 166 balls, a superb innings which included 18 fours and four sixes as the hosts replied with 398-9 declared chasing Wales’ imposing first innings total of 406-8.

Cheshire began the day on 112 for two from 25 overs, which left them a possible 65 more overs to bat in their first innings.

The hosts quickly had to rebuild after losing skipper Andy Hall for 56, with Spendlove and James Duffy (53) setting the foundations for an impressive partnership.

The pair built a fourth wicket partnership of 212 before Cheshire lost their next wicket at 347.

Duffy, who kept his attacking instincts in check as he played second fiddle to Spendlove, lasted 102 balls in his innings - including one six and four fours.

Cheshire then suffered an untimely collapse, losing their last six wickets for just 51 runs as they attempted in vain to surpass the visitors formidable total.

Nathan Dumelow chipped in with a quickfire 35 not out from 30 balls but Cheshire faltered and lost three wickets for three runs at the death.

Hall finally called a halt to proceedings as Cheshire declared just over eight overs short of their 90-over allocation.

Batting second Wales finished the day on 226 for five thanks to determined half-centuries from James Harris (56), captain Michael O'Shea (53) and an unbeaten 52 from Tom Merilaht.

Hyde seamer Tom Young was the pick of Cheshire's bowlers with a fine 2-15 return from nine overs, while Syddall - who took a wicket with the fourth ball of the day - Dumelow and fellow off-spinner Daniel Berry were also in the wickets.

Holding five second innings wickets, Wales lead Cheshire by 234 runs going into the third and final day with all three outcomes still a distinct possibility.

"It's going to be an interesting final day," reflected Hall. "We batted really well to get close to Wales' total, but more so because we did it with overs to spare.

"Ben Spendlove batted brilliantly, it was a great partnership between him and James Duffy. It was important we didn't struggle in our first innings, otherwise we would have been under a lot of pressure in our second innings if we had been behind by a few runs.”