KNUTSFORD’S seconds lost by the most slender of margins in the Cheshire Alliance encounter with their Trafford counterparts on Saturday.

Chasing 155 to win, their opponents reached their target with two balls to spare in a close contest’s final over.

Samir Maluk (3-37), Omar Khan (2-48) and captain Rob Vaughan (2-37) were among the wickets.

Knutsford had made 154-9 with Vaughan (31), Asah Shah (34) and Abin Abraham (37) making starts.

Matthew Ball took 5-37.

Knutsford’s first team could not prevent visitors Old Parkonians from recording a fourth win of the season, this time by 116 runs at Mereheath Lane.

Invited to bat, the away team totalled 207-7, boosted by a partnership for the second wicket worth 138 runs between brothers Mike and Tim Hitchell.

Rizwan Hasnain took 4-64 for Knutsford.

They were knocked over for 91, with Adeel Bhatti (25) offering most resistance at the bottom of the order.