Shropshire win and return to the summit
Shropshire stormed back to the top of the Unicorns Minor Counties Championship Western Division table after dismissing Cheshire for 230 on the third and final day.
They were well aware the key clash between fellow title contenders Cornwall and Berkshire had been abandoned as a draw, with no play possible in the south west after the opening day.
Shropshire took full advantage to leapfrog both sides by wrapping up victory by 70 runs just after tea at Nantwich.
They now head into their final Western Division game against Wiltshire at Devizes, which starts on August 14, five points clear of Berkshire in pole position.
Shropshire stalwart James Ralph crowned his 100th Minor Counties Championship appearance for the club, some 18 years after representing the county for the first time.
Spinners Henry Blofield and David Wainwright shared nine of the Cheshire's 10 second innings wickets between them.
Wainwright ended with match figures of 10-154 from 49.1 overs, but Shropshire's chairman of selectors Brian Foxall hailed the quality of the all round team display.
He said: "It was terrific bowling from the two slow bowlers, but it's been a great all-round team performance."
Shropshire started the final day at Nantwich on 132-4, a lead of 228 as they went in search of quick runs.
Skipper Steve Leach and Wainwright completed a fifth-wicket partnership of 100, before Leach was stumped by Adam Worrall off Jack Williams for a season's best championship score of 63.
Williams (4-56) struck again with his next delivery, bowling Omar Ali without scoring.
Wainwright, having made it two half centuries in the match, continued to find runs in plentiful supply.
He was unbeaten on 79, from 72 balls, when the declaration came with Shropshire on 204-6.
Former England Lions man Wainwright struck a six and 13 fours to lift his tally of Championship runs this year up to 420 runs.
Set 301 for victory from a minimum of 87 overs, Cheshire soon lost opener Calum Rowe.
He was caught behind by debutant wicketkeeper Harry Chandler off Alex Wyatt with the score on six in just the third over.
But Rick Moore and Ryan Brown then went on the attack, sharing a partnership of 121 which was finally ended just after lunch.
Wainwright trapped the dangerous Moore, attempting a reverse sweep, leg before wicket for 66, a defining moment.
From 127-1, Cheshire were soon wobbling at 132-4, with Blofield bowling David Hurst for a single before Brown, just one short of a half century, fell to a Richard Oliver catch off Wainwright.
Two more wickets then fell in quick succession as Blofield removed Henry Dobson, before Shrewsbury spinner Blofield struck again in the same over.
Oliver's safe hands accounted for Cheshire skipper Lee Dixon for a quickfire 21.
Cheshire were really up against it when Wainwright bowled Adam Worrall to reduce the hosts to 175-7.
They were dealt another blow when former Glamorgan man Will Owen, caught by Ross Aucott, became Blofield's fourth victim for 25.
Keen to seal victory as quickly as possible, Wainwright got rid of Ash Davies lbw.
He then, almost fittingly, had the final word by bowling Danny Woods to leave Williams stranded on 32 not out.
Wainwright ended with 5-91 and Blofield claimed 4-60, as Shropshire clinched their fourth win from five Championship matches this season.
