Western Division round-up by Paul Bolton

Defending champions Berkshire closed in on the Western Division title by securing maximum batting points. They now need only a draw to progress to the final.

A Minor Counties best from left-hander Euan Woods steered Berkshire to their full hand, but a second half century of the match from Ryan Scott held up their victory push.

North Perrott: Dorset 186 (Ryan Scott 62) & 173-5 (Ryan Scott 50), Berkshire 338 (Euan Woods 159, Jack Davies 67)

Rain held up Cheshire but their spinners prospered between the showers.

Danny Woods, Simon Normanton and Rick Moore took three wickets apiece with only Jamie McIlroy topping 40.

Alderley Edge: Cheshire 502-8 dec (Furqan Shafiq 207, Jamie Crawley 173, Rick Moore 52, Tom Hage 4-105), Herefordshire205 (Jamie McIlroy 68).

Former Cornwall batsman Brad Wadlan led the Welsh resistance against his old county whose attack includes Somerset’s Peter Trego.

Bridgend Town’s 17-year-old seamer Tomos Jones impressed on his seasonal debut which helped Wales to a slender first innings lead.

Usk: Wales 245 (Joe Voke 132, Adam Keane 53, Tom Dinnis 6-77) & 151-6 (Brad Wadlan 84 not out), Cornwall 238 (Sam Wood 52, Tomos Jones 4-43).

Henley left arm seamer Tahir Afridi returned his best Minor Counties figures in five years to put Wiltshire in control.

No Oxfordshire batsman reached 30 in a disappointing first innings but three did in Wiltshire’s second innings including opener Dave Bromley (43) with his second significant contribution of an encouraging debut.

Oxfordshire need 314 to win on the final day.

Marlborough: Wiltshire 211 (Ed Young 53, Dave Bromley 51, Robbie Shurmer 4-44) & 231 Oxfordshire 129 (Tahir Afridi 6-47) & 0-0.