Stafford maintain stunning form to climb to top of NSSCL Division Five table

Stafford seconds jumped to the top of the NSSCL Division Five table after narrowly beating previous incumbents Audlem.

Stafford are half-a-dozen points clear - and also have a game in hand - after registering their sixth straight win.

It was a close call, though, with the county town outfit prevailing by four runs in an entertaining encounter.

Kannan Bhuvanachandran (29) and Kshitiz Mahajan (28) were the principal contributors to Stafford’s 143 all out in the early part of the match. Abhijith Jayan scooped 3-3 for Audlem, with Simon Swift picking up 3-27.

Richard Wilson led Audlem’s chase, compiling 53, which featured six fours and two sixes.

Vijayan Rahul added 23 not out, but it wasn’t quite enough as the home side were bowled out for 139 with nine balls remaining.

Sam Haynes took 4-19 for Stafford, backed up by two wickets apiece for Josh Williams and Oliver Stark.

Caverswall seconds cruised to the points at home against Moddershall & Oulton fifths.

The Modd men took first use and made their way to 148 all out on the back of Saleem Mir’s 39, Mohammed Younis’ 35 and 34 from N Akhtar.

Chris Baranowski and Glen Moore took 3-29 and 3-43 respectively.

That target was a walk in the park for Caverswall as they swept to a nine-wicket win inside 19 overs.

Andy Hopwood struck five fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 50, with Kallum Crawford lending support with 47.

Leycett seconds pocketed a five-wicket home victory over their Sandyford counterparts.

Sandyford progressed to 145-8 from their 40 overs on the trip to Park Terrace.

Theo Sharman top-scored with 38, while Stephan Shemilt (33) and Joe Ward (34) were also in good touch.

Isaac McDonald claimed 3-31 for Leycett, with Liam Bedson chipping in with a couple of scalps.

Asachveer Singh-Kaller’s 3-26 and two wickets for Tim Brennan boosted Sandyford after tea.

But it was Leycett who were left celebrating victory as Jams Mayor made 47.

Porthill Park fourths had a key duo to thank for their win at Stafford thirds.

Porthill Park were chasing 180 for victory, but fell to 74-4 after R Manghat Ramachandran took 3-4.

However, there were no further alarms for the visitors as Declan Coxon and Calum Bilton joined forces.

Coxon hit 11 fours in his 67 not out, while Bilton’s unbeaten 55 featured eight boundaries and two maximums as Porthill Park won by six wickets.

Jake Bartlett had earlier made 88 not out in Stafford’s 179-7. His innings included nine fours.

Coxon took 3-27 for Porthill Park before turning his attention to matters with the bat.

Stone SP thirds had a fine day as they won at home against Meir Heath seconds.

Joel Davies’ 34, 21 from Tom Holdway and Mikey Parker’s 18 were the main efforts in Stone SP’s 109 all out. Fahzad Aziz took 3-21.

Meir Heath couldn’t get going in reply and were bundled out for 69.

Stanley Langmead and Davies finished with 4-11 and 3-11 respectively.

Whitmore seconds made home advantage count to see off the challenge of Cheadle thirds.

Zakariya Zaheer top-scored with an unbeaten 64 to underpin Whitmore’s 146-6. Zaheer’s innings featured six fours and one six, while Bryson Bertoni added 34.

Joseph Wallani (32) led Cheadle’s response, but they were eventually bowled out for 112.

Joe Harrison did the damage with 4-25 and there were a couple of wickets for Owen Lawton.