THE cricket season is back and there is plenty of interest locally with nine clubs from our area competing at various levels of the game.

Davenham and Oulton Park are our highest-ranked teams, with both competing in Division One of the Cheshire County Cricket League with Winnington Park and Oakmere both in Division Three.

Division One of the Cheshire Cricket League is packed with local interest as it includes Northwich, Weaverham, Middlewich and Barnton while Winsford take their place in Division Three

Here’s a look at how our sides have got on in the opening weeks of the campaign…

CHESHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE

Davenham are yet to play in the league but did make progress in the Cheshire Cup on Sunday having beaten Bollington by three wickets.

John O’Sullivan’s unbeaten knock of 40 guided them to their victory target of 196 after Regan Johnson (57) and Martyn East (56) had earlier hit half-centuries.

Oulton Park’s sole league fixture this year saw them lose by three wickets at Sale.

An unbeaten 66 from Owen Williamson helped them post 172-9 batting first, but the hosts were able to edge over the line despite four wickets from Nick Ball and three for Andy Dufty.

In Division Three, there was a ‘derby’ match to start the year and Winnington Park emerged victorious, beating hosts Oakmere by 71 runs.

A knock of 73 from Jadan Jones helped Park post 207-9 batting first, with Alec Butcher (46) providing support while Ethan Yeo (4-53) starred with the ball for Oakmere.

Michael Dunning’s five-wicket haul then helped dismiss the hosts for 136 in reply, with James Hodkinson (35) offering the most resistance.

Park could not follow that win up on Saturday, however, as a collapse to 122 all out in pursuit of 165 for victory saw them lose by 42 runs at Tattenhall.

Jonny Wales top-scored with 43 not out having earlier taken four wickets with the ball alongside Scott Edwards.

Oakmere did manage to bounce back, however, as they beat Barrow by 56 runs on Saturday.

Yeo and Ciaran McDonnell claimed three wickets each to help skittle the visitors for 126 in reply to Oakmere’s first-innings effort of 182, which featured a top score of 31 from Richard Lyons.

CHESHIRE CRICKET LEAGUE

Northwich beat neighbours Barnton by five wickets on Saturday in both sides’ first league game of the year having bowled them out for 60 in the first innings, with A Haridas and A Pothalakkal taking three wickets each while Aidan Malley (12) was the only batsman to make it out of double figures for Barnton.

Northwich made heavier weather of the chase then they would have liked as Matty Perks and Angus Dean took two wickets each for Barnton, but they made it home inside 17 overs.

Middlewich are yet to get their season going but Weaverham opened up with a seven-wicket loss to Warrington on Saturday.

Only three players – Ryan Simm (43), Jake Lightfoot (35) and Stef Bell (23) – reached double figures as Weaverham were dismissed for 120 batting first, with the visitors reaching their target inside 30 overs.

Winsford are also yet to get their campaign started in Division Three

Saturday’s first-team fixtures:

Cheshire County Cricket League

Division One: Brooklands v Davenham (12pm), Oulton Park v Stockport Georgians (12pm)

Division Three: Barrow v Winnington Park (12pm), Runcorn v Oakmere (12pm)

Cheshire Cricket League

Division One: Barnton vs Wilmslow (12.30pm), Langley v Middlewich (12.30pm), Old Parkonians v Northwich (12.30pm), Woodford v Weaverham (12.30pm)

Division Three: Winsford v Burton (12.30pm)