Last day drama sees Berkshire win through

Western Division 1 Championship Day 3: Cheshire 287 (87 overs) & 177 (77.1 overs), Berkshire 254 (65.3 overs) and 212-7 (65 overs). Berkshire won by 3 wickets. 

Cheshire 7 points, Berkshire 22 points.

Scoreboard & video highlights   Day 3 YouTube highlights

Three days of good hard cricket finished just before tea as Berkshire triumphed by three wickets in the Nantwich sunshine.

Set 211 to win, Archie Carter steered the ship through some late choppy waters in an enthralling game to further cement Berkshire's position at the top of Western Division 1.

Carter carried his bat for 66 as late wickets brought Cheshire back into the game after the visitors had looked reasonably comfortable at 138-2.

Cheshire added just 16 runs to their overnight total, closing on 177 - the spinners continuing their stranglehold, Adam Searle 5-77, Luke Beaven 4-42.

It was then a question of how long Cheshire would take to bring their spin atttack into play as Berkshire went in search of three wins from three. 

Luke Young and George Valentine had little joy early on as debut boy James Isbell and Johnnny Connell made a confident start.

The slow left-armers then made their entrance, Xander Selby with the breakthrough to dismiss Connell (14) and then Dan Lincoln (36).

Dan Wilson acconted for Isbell on 45, Rohan Luthra's direct hit took Charlie Dunnett by surprise to make it 143-4 and then Wilson bowled a reverse-sweeping Rhod Lewis to throw the game wide open at 149-5.

Selby then struck again, removing O'Driscoll - 154-6 -  but at the other end, cool headed Carter was compiling runs steadily as Berkshire wobbled. 

The pressure eased as Carter moved things on to 184 before memories of a Berkshire collapse on the same ground two years ago were revived as Luthra held on to Toby Greatwood's skier.

In the end though, Carter saw thngs through as Cheshire lamented missed opportunities earlier in the game. 

Nevertheless, a young side made great progress from the disappointment of the Oxfordshire trip last time out and can look forward to games with Devon and Cornwall.

"A disappointing result," commented Head of Cricket, Pete Babbage, "but there were so many positives.

"Reducing Berkshire to 48-5 in the first innings gave us a real chance but let's remember, they're a class act and their experience pulled things round. A mad half an hour on ther second afternoon when we slipped from 136-1 to 150-7 cost us dearly" and 50 extra runs could have made a huge difference.

Nevertheless, this was an outstanding game of cricket between two positive sides who will now re-group before they face each other again on Sunday in a 50 over KO Trophy semi-final at Alderley Edge.

Back in the Championship, Berkshire can wrap up the Division 1 title if they beat Oxfordshire in their final game while Cheshire move to Sidmouth to take on Devon before finishing at Chester against Cornwall.

All to play for!

Western Division 1 Table and other scores as Cornwall beat Devon