Fresh Hope for Longton as Tom helps them to secure home success

THE weather may have impacted the NSSCL Premier A schedule at the weekend - but it turned out to be a good day for the bottom two.

- Chris Travers

Both Longton and Alsager managed to find enough time to bank victories as they saw off Audley and Leek respectively.

The pair remain in the relegation zone, but have closed the gap to safety after clinching their key successes.

Longton set sail towards a much-needed win by skittling visitors Audley for just 73 in Saturday's meeting.

Chris Dyer's 4-28 and 3-10 from Ben Green were integral to Audley folding on their visit to Ripon Road.

Nipun Lamahewage also chipped in with a couple of wickets, while four Audley batsmen managed to find their way into double figures.

Steve Stolk and Richard Holloway both made 12, Oliver Wilde contributed 11, while Alex Coates chipped in with 10.

Longton ran into early trouble as they were reduced to 17-3 in their run chase.

Dane Tinsley (17) settled the nerves, before Tom Hope (34no) put them in the driving seat and on the way to a five-wicket win.

Rob Hemmings scooped 3-7 for Audley and Stolk took the other two wickets to fall.

Alsager gained a surprise victory on their visit to second-placed Leek in a rain-reduced match.

Leek made their way to 156-8 from 29 overs on the back of Tom Moulton's half-century.

Moulton hit five fours and four sixes in his 77, with support forthcoming from Matthew Campbell (25) and Joshua Hudson (18).

Yash Kothari helped himself to 4-23 for Alsager and there were double strikes from Manraj Johal, above, and Tom Bason.