Elworth Cricket Club's 3rd XI clinched the title of Cheshire County League 3rd XI Division Two on Sunday with victory over Hyde. Elworth 116/7 beat Hyde 115 all out.

The match was much closer than many had envisaged and, as wickets tumbled, the chase for 116 looked a tall order;

particularly when Sam Sherratt was caught and bowled by the impressive Thomas Rothwell, who took 3/11 from

10 overs.

This left the score 81/6 and when Aaron Evans was bowled by George Rothwell for five, 97/7 was

decidedly unsettling.

The side has again been led superbly by Ryan Johnston this season and his batting, especially

at the business end of the season has been outstanding.

Here he guided his side over the line with a well-judged

32 not out and it was fitting that Noah Hudson contrived to take a single to bring the scores level thus allowing his

captain to strike the winning run, clinching the title and promotion.

Earlier Will Lewis had taken the bowling honours with three for five, although it was a smart piece of work by Joe

Hodson to run out Hyde opener Tom Rothwell for four which set the ball rolling in the Foxes direction.

Apart from a well-played 38 from Josh Axon, aided by 21 not out from Oliver O'Brien, the visitors batting was fragile in the

face of Charlie Smith 2/17, Ben Morgan 2/10, and Lewis. Ben Lloyd had a good fay behind the stumps too, with

two stumpings and a catch.

Johnson's last three crucial innings have been 40 not out against Woodley, 45 not out at Ashton on Mersey and

now 32 not out in a tense last half hour. This is certainly leading by example and his team has responded

throughout the summer.

They have won 11 of the 16 matches played so far. Two more they won by virtue of the opposition conceding, two were abandoned due to the weather and one match was lost.

Matt Greasby (396) and Joe Hodson (395) have been the heaviest scorers, Hodson hit two excellent centuries and

two fifties.

Greasby hit two fifties with a top score of 89 which he scored as part of a 196-run opening partnership with Hodson in the home game with Bowdon in June.

Johnston himself was unlucky to miss a century when he was bowled for 98 in the home game with Ashton on Mersey in June. Ryan Hudson and Ben Morgan both scored fifties in the important win at Woodley two weeks ago.

The side has been little bothered in a run chase, whatever

was asked of them they have, almost always, reached the target.

The bowling has been consistent, and the fielding has supported the bowlers well. Will Lewis is the leading

wicket-taker with 21, both Connor Flowers and Sam Sherratt have 14 and Ben Morgan and Adam Copnall 13.

It has been a real team effort with the group achieving its goal with two matches to spare. Next season in Division

One will see tougher challenges but the evidence suggests that this group of players thrives on a challenge.