LINDOW remain second in Cheshire County Cricket League Division Two despite a draw in a weather affected encounter at Northwich.

Tim Young and Alex Mathews (3-41) bowled a really tight line and length up front, making it hard for the home side to score on a very slow outfield.

It was evenly poised at 75-4 when Ben Tyler (2-55) and Ryan O’Brien (3-16) helped reduce Northwich to 146-9 at tea.

Then came the rain for an hour, meaning Lindow lost 30 overs.

So, playing in T20 mode, Lindow went for it early.

They kept up with the pace needed but lost wickets at a fast rate too.

It was left for Ian Park and Mathew Ramsden to block out the last 11 overs to finish on 67-6 for the draw.

A home date with table dwellers Bredbury St Mark’s is next up for Lindow.

Lindow’s seconds, after mopping up puddles on the outfield of a match that started an hour late, were comfortable victors over their Northwich counterparts.

Lindow’s opening bowlers Tom Rae (3-25 from six overs) and stand-in captain Sam Walker (4-15 from four) had Northwich in a tizzy.

At one point Northwich lost six wickets for just two runs!

After a recovery of sorts, Northwich were dismissed for 44, a target reached by Lindow within six overs of their own innings and without losing any wickets.

Lindow’s thirds enjoyed a 24-run victory at Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge on Sunday.

Heavy downpours did not disturb the rhythm of opening bat Pete Venables (31).

Wickets fell regularly at the other end although resistance from Callum Livingston meant Lindow reached 107 all out on a very sticky wicket.

In reply, Paul Wilson picked up two early wickets although Cheadle were accumulating runs.

With the score at 50-2 the match was well balanced but after Ben Gedrodge picked up a vital wicket and Livingston struck with a double-wicket maiden, the pendulum swung in Lindow’s favour.

The tight bowling continued and the hosts suffered a middle-order collapse, with Paul Wilson returning to the attack to picking up two more victims.