CHEADLE completed a remarkable escape from the Cheshire County League First Division drop on Saturday.

Birkenhead Park suffered their second relegation in three years when a six hit off the penultimate delivery of the season at Kingsway consigned the Wirral men to the Division Two in 2009.

After Park had been dismissed for 111 (Ian Platt 22, Dave Dooler 3-18), Cheadle were poised to win at 111 for 7 (Rana Malook 37) at the start of the last over bowled by spinner Shahzad Khan. His first two balls were dots, then he took two wickets, but the fifth was slammed over the boundary rope by number 11 batsman Brad Kinsey, earning Cheadle a one-wicket win and the 25 points they desperately needed for safety after footing the table most of the season.

Park collected only five points and finish bottom of Division One by 12 points. Cheadle skipper Simon Hall said: "I’ve been with the club 15 years, but this was the tensest match I’ve ever played in. I went to hide in the Kingsway school field during that last over!"

Going down with Birkenhead are Bollington.

At the top of the First Division, Didsbury banked 25 points from a 131-run home win over Upton, while worthy runners-up and also promoted to the Premiership, Oxton, dismissed Poynton for 67. Oxton coasted home at 73 for 1.

Irby climaxed a successful 60th anniversary season when they clinched the Second Division title with an eight-wicket home win against Hale Barns.

Sale had the better of a drawn game against Marple at Dane Road after posting 191 for 9, with opener Danny Halkon carrying his bat for a superb 117 off 158 balls.

Marple came up with 140 for 8 (James Crisall 34).

Bredbury St Marks’ home match against Stockport Georgians was called off due to waterlogging, with the seven points accrued carrying Bredbury clear of relegationt and consigning Hale Barns to the drop.

Up in the Premier League meanwhile, champions Alderley Edge turned in a lacklustre display to lose by 22 runs to relegated wooden spoonists Heaton Mersey.

Mark Currie top-scored with 24 in Alderley’s modest 125 and finishes as the league’s top batsman with 917 runs at an average of 53.94.

Bowling unchanged, Danny Cranmer took 4-56 and Brenton McDonald - top wicket-taker with 64 victims - 4-65.

Mersey had earlier posted 147 (Dave Fitzsimmons 54), with ex-Lancashire leg-spinner Simon Marshall capturing 6-22, his best figures of the season.

Bowdon finish second, 20 points behind, after a 118-run home win against Toft.

FOUNDER treasurer of the league from 1975-85, and a stalwart member of the Bramhall club, Terry Everard Caro has died after a long illness. He was the husband of Robyn, father of Sue, Phillipa, Adam and Nick, had three grandchildren and a brother, Andy. Terry was also well-known in rugby union circles, both at Davenport and for his refereeing prowess.