The Lindow 1s continued their good recent form by beating Tattenhall away from home in what proved to be a comfortable victory.
Bowling first Lindow hit their straps immediately as Timder Young (3-29) and Alex Matthews proved too much for the hosts. They were backed up very well by the fielding unit with Homy Masud and Osman Butt taking two catches apiece.
Alex Matthews swung his way to the outstanding figures of 7 wickets for just 33 runs as Tattenhall could only make 67 all out.
The Lindow reply didn't start well in the face of some good bowling on a helpful pitch for the bowlers. When skipper Ben Tyler fell for a duck and coach Liam Castellas was bounced out for the second week in a row, Tattenhall found their way back into the game.
Matt Rambo scored a big-hitting 9 but unfortunately for him he peaked too soon for the second week in a row as he was trapped dead in front, the batsman all-but walking after the appeal.
Ryan Mason-O'Brien used good protection for the second week in a row as he dug in obdurately. Just as Lindow looked to get going, rain stopped play for approximately two hours which frustrated the visitors.
When play resumed Jamie Peel was unlucky to fall straight after the break. However, from here Mason-Brien (27*) and Osman Butt (15) took Lindow to the brink of victory. Butt's big rear-guard effort came to an end as he tried to hit a boundary for the victory.
It wasn't long though before Lindow crossed the finishing line to seal the 5-wicket victory. This win takes Lindow back into second place in the league as they close the gap on leaders Barrow to 19 points.
2s returned to winning ways on Saturday by beating visitors Weaverham by 4 wickets.
The Star of the Show was undoubtedly the returning left-arm spinner Graham Clinton. Unavailable for the first half of the season, Clinton made his first appearance for the 2s in 2017 and made it in some style, returning superb figures of 6 for 18 from 13 overs of variation, menace, and beguiling turn and bounce that had the Weaverham batsmen in a muddle.
Although making hard work of reaching their target of 125 for victory, Lindow managed to get home comfortably enough in the end, with a patient 40 from Andy Hume and a steady 27 from Ryan Johnston setting up the victory.
On Sunday the table-topping 3s travelled to Ashley. Batting first the highlights of the innings were provided by father Pete Venables who hit a well-paced 59 and son James, who hit some splendid straight fours and sixes in his aggressive 47.
After a sporting declaration by skipper Pete Hodge at 181, Ashley went all out for victory. In the end they fell 20 runs short with Rowan Day claiming five wickets and youngster Tom Orr picking up his first senior wicket. Frustratingly, Lindow couldn't grab the 10th wicket that would have secured the win as Ashley saw out the final over nine down. It was another cracking game for the 3s and they remain in poll position in the race for promotion.
Photo: Alex Matthews who took 7-33 for the 1st XI.
Match report by Angela Yore.
