He'd been dropped from the second team to the thirds, who he helped post a mammoth 313 which Oulton Park could get nowhere near in the chase with Louis Foster picking up an amazing five wickets for seven runs from four overs.

A "buzzing" Birtles said: "It's never nice to be dropped but I took the opportunity to prove a point and help the thirds in their title charge."

Second team skipper Shahnawaz Khan hailed a "fantastic team performance showing great belief, discipline and character" in beating Nantwich's second string by 14 runs.

Joe Clark again led the charge with 65 as Timperley posted 213 all out...and then spin aces Khan and Zaki Khalid picked up three wickets each to restrict the home team to 199 all out.

Finally Nantwich first team showed why they are league leaders - and despite the valiant efforts of Timperley opening bowlers Chris Page and Jonathan Fowler set a target of 284.

Skipper Ed Galley bemoaned dropped catches and misfields from Timperley which proved costly as the home team lost by 102 runs.

He said: "Our hopes were quickly hindered by losing a few early wickets. Joe Ashmore and Zac Christie rebuilt well and kept us in the hunt by putting pressure back on the Nantwich attack."

Galley added: "After a tough run of fixtures against the league's top sides, we travel to Cheadle this weekend hoping for a change of fortune."

"It’s been a disappointing few weeks, we’ve been in strong positions in each game and not been able to capitalise. We’ve proven we’re a side that can compete with the best but we’ve lacked that killer instinct and bit of edge to get over the line".