Opener Santhosh smashed 111 from just 87 balls helping set the mammoth total of 277 at Runcorn, with Kiran responsible for 127 not out from 118 balls.

This total proved expectedly unassailable as Runcorn could only muster 160 all out from 38 overs in reply

Proud Third's skipper Raghu Bhaskar said: "We're checking whether two century makers with a 178 partnership is some kind of club record. It was magnificent from the pair of them."

Meanwhile the Timperley first team had 16 year old Cheshire county player Freddie Vaughan Hawkins to thank with a highly impressive 73 which helped them to a respectable 201 against table toppers Hyde at Stockport Road.

But it wasn’t enough as Hyde showed their class to cruise to victory after 38 overs.

Captain Ed Galley said: "We started poorly being 20-4 after 14 overs in what was looking like it could be a dismal day with the bat. However we recovered to post a more than respectable score of 201 courtesy mainly of a superb 73 from Freddie who announced himself in this high level of cricket against one of the best attacks in the Premier League with some strong and dominant batting."

"It was certainly one of the best innings I’ve seen from someone so young at this standard. It was great to see a homegrown youngster play so well and show such ability. Freddie can take a lot of confidence from that innings to know he can perform at this level. "

Galley added that the firsts MUST now turn their focus to the last four weeks of the season where there are plenty of winnable games left as his faltering team look to secure Premier League safety.

Finally, yet another loss for the fast fading second team who were well beaten at Macclesfield. The hosts posted 215 - and Timperley crumbled to 140 all out with only Rob Matthews and Muhammad Haris showing any resistance with 38 and 29 respectively.