Topped at topsy-turvy Toft

It's difficult to know where to start with this one...

At best it was an intriguing game of cricket that swung one then the other. At worst it was a comedy of errors that saw Chester slip to their third consecutive league defeat.

The facts: Toft batted first on a deck that got better as the day wore on. A solid start saw them reach 104-2 (Ben Staniforth 56) before losing their way then recovering to a maybe below par 236-9, Jimmy Lomas making 40. Chester's bowling and fielding was variable at times, Harry Killoran shining with 4-45, Jack Williams 3-65.

Having fallen short in a 179 run chase a week earlier, the last rites were close to being read when an apprehensive reply saw Chester at 10-3 with Rick Moore, Atif Qureshi and Luke Young back in the hutch.

Cue the skipper once more, and a terrific fightback as Harry Killoran (75) and Alex Money (80) took control. The carnage of earlier seemed a distant memory with the two untroubled against anything, including impressive spells from Lomas who would ultimately finish with 4-52.

With Killoran out, there seemed no cause for alarm bells and the procession towards victory still seemed likely. But the current Chester are a little unpredictable to say the least. 169-3 became 170-7. Even some hardened Toft pros were scratching their heads.

Jack Williams (17) hit back as Jackson and Lomas sensed blood, and was given run out. 201-8. A need for the tail to wag just a little more than normal. Charlie Fleet departed and it was down to Chester's last pair. 30 needed as Tom Wyatt took control, managing the strike well with George McCormick, choosing his runs and edging Chester towards that much needed win. Three needed from the last over. Singles not taken and then, the last ball. Three needed. Driven for surely just one. And so it was.

Bewilderment then as the draw/tie/ morphed into defeat with George McCormick run out off the last ball as time stood still.

It's a regroup before next week and a home game with Timperley as Chester slip to sixth in the table, 35 points behind leaders Nantwich.