CHESTER BOUGHTON HALL might need an extension to their Filkins Lane pavilion if their trophy hunt proves successful on all fronts this summer.
The firsts, seconds and thirds all top their respective divisions while the first piece of silverware could be collected this weekend at the Cheshire County League T20 Finals Day.
Rick Moore takes his team to Hyde on Sunday where they face the hosts in a semi-final. The winners of that tie will take on either Toft or Nantwich.
“Finals day is always exciting and Hyde will be a lively place, especially with us playing Hyde in the second semi final,” said captain Moore.
“We’ve grown very fond of the T20 competition over the last few years, particularly having gone all the way to the national finals twice. We’ll hopefully be able to go with a full strength squad including Ollie Law in the fold again.”
But Moore is urging his side to take one game at a time and wants his side to concentrate on maintaining their lead at the top of the Premier Division.
Tomorrow they take on Cheadle at home and Moore, who top scored with 62 in last week’s six wicket thrashing of Toft, added: “We keep going and at this stage of the season we’re really benefitting from our strength in depth.
“It was a professional performance against Toft and we’ll be looking for the same this weekend against Cheadle with an unchanged side.
“With a big day on Sunday we’ll need to ensure focus on our league game before switching to T20 the next day.”
Cheadle started the season on fire but have slipped to sixth place despite beating strugglers Grappenhall by two wickets a week ago.
Hall’s victory wasn’t enough to increase their 21 point lead at the top as Alderley Edge showed why they are serious title contenders with a nine-wicket annihilation of champions Nantwich.
Alderley will look to continue their good run at home to a Neston side who have suffered back-to-back defeats.
Timperley are the other form team in the league and they will bid to dent Hyde’s confidence ahead of Sunday’s T20 showdown.
Grappenhall host Nantwich, Toft will aim to bounce back at Oulton Park while Marple head to Widnes.
Barrow beat Christleton in the Division Two derby with Iroshan de Silva starring.
He hit 77 in Barrow’s 182 and then took 2-21 to go with Ryan Holloway’s 5-56 and Mal Barrow’s 3-37 as Christleton, for whom Josh Joseph, Arslan Dar and Javed Iqbal all took three wickets, fell just short on 164.
Aamir Afzal was Tattenhall’s match-winner in the basement battle with Northwich. He hit 66 of Hall’s 209 for seven before taking 7-27 as the bottom club collapsed for 91.
Stephen Charles did the same for Alvanley, top scoring with 74 in his side’s 197 for eight before landing 5-17 as Hale Barns were skittled out for 88.
Barrow, Christleton and Alvanley will continue their battle to be the best team in Chester in Division Two.
Barrow’s victory over Christleton last week saw them leapfrog their opponents into fifth place.
Iroshan de Silva came good with the bat for Barrow, who travel to Hale Barns.
Christleton need leading wicket taker Arslan Dar to be at his best when leaders Lindow make the trip to Little Heath.
Alvanley, who are sixth, head to Stockport Georgians while Tattenhall will continue their fight to avoid the drop at Warrington.
Westminster Park, who lost out by seven wickets to Hawk Green in the T20 quarter-finals on Sunday, are two points off top spot in Division Four of the Cheshire League.
They head to Bowdon Vale tomorrow hoping to maintain their title challenge.
Saughall, suffering a mid-season slump, have a tough test at home to leaders, Wistaston Village while in Division Three, Chester County Officers head to Audlem.
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