LAST year's champions Bowden had cause for double celebration after they made light work of beating Oulton Park on Saturday and then went on to progress to the fourth round of the ECB National Knockout Cup with a fine win against Huyton.

Oulton were routed for 139 thanks an inspired spell of bowling from Gary Yates.

And the Souths Downs Road boys wasted no time in knocking off the runs inside 29 overs thanks to a splendid unbeaten 69 from big-hitter Jon Bean.

Alderley Edge moved into second place thanks to a comfortable win against promoted Urmston.

It was also a good weekend for Didsbury (Richard Battye 71), who set a dautning total of 256-8 for Macclesfield.

Richard Battye led the run-scoring with 71, but Paul Hughes' men crumbled having initially been in the hunt and ended on 197-8.

Veteran seam bowler Duncan Anderson, the South Manchester club chairman, became the league's leading wicket-taker with 20 victims thanks to an inspired spell of 6-34.

Neston's Stan Clifford, the experienced all-rounder, leads the run charts with 328, after making 34 in his team's draw at home to Nantwich.

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