Leek up to second after fourth win in five games

Leek are in second place after banking a fourth win in five with victory at Newcastle & Hartshill.

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Hosts Castle were in all sorts of trouble early on as they slumped to 20-6.

Sachithra Perera led the resistance with 24, but the damage had been done and Castle were eventually bowled out for 63. It was Leek’s seamers who made merry as Rory Haydon (4-20), Lewis Moulton (3-15) and a couple of strikes from Josh Hudson did the damage.

Perera helped himself to 3-29 on the resumption, but Leek were soon celebrating a six-wicket triumph thanks to 21 from Matthew Campbell and 17 apiece from Tom Moulton and captain Alex Mellor.

Audley remain top of the tree after they beat defending champions Hem Heath in a rain-affected match.

Audley looked to be on course for a big score after Steve Stolk (45), Oliver Wilde (43), Jack Redman (26) and Freddie Doorbar (18) had orchestrated their progress to 130-2.

But Hem Heath fought back and four wickets apiece from Greg Prime (4-17) and Callum Leese (4-21) instigated the hosts’ downfall to 167 all out. EJ Laverty took the other two wickets.

Hem Heath's run chase ran into trouble, though, as they found themselves 31-5.