NANTWICH now appear to be in a two-horse race with Chester Boughton Hall for the ECB Premier League title.

With reigning champions Alderley Edge losing for the third time in four games on a day when top two Chester Boughton Hall and Nantwich both won comfortably, the title race is narrowing.

Chester remain 12 points clear of the Dabbers after registering their 12th win, a comfortable eight wickets affair at home to wooden-spoonists Bowdon.

Nantwich, who host Neston on Saturday, won by seven wickets at Hyde, despatching the Werneth Low club to 11th place with relegation becoming a reality.

James Duffy, 33, and Dan Berry, 30, top-scored in Hyde’s inadequate tally of 100, the two Olivers - Freckingham 4-32 and Griffriths 3-20 – doing the damage.

Luke Robinson scored an unbeaten 30 in the Dabbers’ comfortable reply of 105-3 in 23 overs.

Alderley Edge lost by 19 runs at Cheadle, who have edged out of the relegation zone as a result.