Just hours after lodging an appeal against his suspension, Bowdon's Simon Marshall made a timely half-century to overhaul Neston bringing to an end their remarkable eight match unbeaten run in the Cheshire ECB Premier League and handing Chester Boughton Hall the lead.
Earlier in the week Marshall was suspended by a League Disciplinary Committee for four games running into next season after being found guilty of verbally abusing an Oxton player in an ECB Premier League game on Saturday, August 10.
The former Neston and Lancashire player subsequently lodged an appeal against ruling before Saturday’s 12 noon start, rendering him eligible to play.
Beginning the match with 856 runs, Marshall’s innings and an unbeaten 37 from another ex-Old Trafford man, Mark Chilton, helped Bowdon reply with 125 for four to Neston’s shock dismissal for 124 in which Jack Smith made 49. Gareth Edwards took 3-37.
While this was going on, Chester were engaged in a higher-scoring game at home to Grappenhall, where their visitors batted well to post a daunting 242 for eight with Adam Roylance making 77 and James McCoy 46 while Warren Goodwin was the pick of the Chester bowling with 3-19.
Chester were always on course, however, and with Lancashire’s Jordan Clark continuing the form which earned him a Man of the Match century in the Cheshire Cup final at New Brighton the previous weekend, CBH sailed home at 243 for three in 42 overs.
Clark was unbeaten with 106 off 75 balls, including nine fours and seven sixes. Matt Griffiths helped with 49, Goodwin 39 and Lee Dixon 36 not out.
Meanwhile, it’s still any two from three for the relegation places after Didsbury registered their second successive victory. This was by three wickets at home to Oxton, whom they dismissed for 187, Shaaiq Choudhry 43, Simon Normanton 4-52, Nick Anderson 3-47. Didsbury replied with 190 for seven, main contributors again being Anderson, 59 and Normanton, 43, while Gayan Fernando took 4-90.
Macclesfield fell back to the bottom after a 79 runs home defeat by Alderley Edge, who have shot up to fourth place. Luckless Calum Rowe, who has never scored a Premier League ton, was out for 99, he and Adam Worrall, 58 putting on 123 for the third wicket.
Macc were all out for 188, Rob Porter 6-37, with Ian Tait making a career best 31 and Barney Cutbill, 21, together adding 58 for the last wicket in vain. Alderley’s star turn was again Jason Whittaker with a superb 6-73 return.
Marple complete the trinity at the foot of the table following a fifth defeat in six games at home to Nantwich. The retiring champions totalled 214, highlighted by a magnificent 115 from yet another Red Rose star in Liam Livingstone, while Andy Greasley claimed 4-63 and James Ormond 4-74.
Marple were bowled out for 156, Gary Cash 42, with Ollie Griffiths enjoying the remarkable figures of 25-10-17-6, aided by Jimmy Warrington’s 4-36.
Hyde clinched a creditable third final placing with a 90 runs victory at fading Toft (four defeats in five). Hyde recovered from 35 for two to close on 246 for two, James Duffy 112 (nine fours and five sixes) and Tom Twiney 111 (12 fours and one six) putting on 211 in an unbroken third wicket stand.
Post-tea, Danny Cranmer (5-57) and Chris Tipper (4-29) bowled Toft out for 156, after James Drummond, 48 and Jake Hancock, 40 opened with a 68 run partnership.