ROLLS-ROYCE and Aston-on-Trent are level pegging at the top of the County League after victories at the weekend.

Captain Naeem Akhtar inspired Royces to claim maximum points at Rolleston to close the five-point gap Aston held from last week, while Aston were getting 22 points for a successful chase at Denby.

Zaheer Abbasi hit 76 in 75 balls as Royces reached 231-9 at Rolleston, Muhammad Sultan adding 53 and Akhtar chipping in 33.

Then Akhtar, the veteran former Sandiacre Town and Dunstall seamer, proved as niggardly as ever with the ball, taking 3-17 from 11.1 overs and wrapping up victory with the last wicket, as Rolleston were tumbled out for 87.

Aston's win took a little more getting, after Denby scored 202-5 – Lucas Carlisle top-scoring with 51.

Shahid Khan (pictured right) took 3-56 and followed it up with 82 not out, as his side reached their target with five wickets down but only four balls to spare.

Bowlers were on top at Shipley Park, where Shipley Hall recorded a narrow victory to climb out of the relegation zone in Division One.

They looked set for a comfortable win when John Buckley's 6-16 and Graham Farnsworth's 3-24 saw off Nutbrook for only 80.

But the visitors' Richard Cutts did all he could to turn the game around and was left with 7-22, the best return of the weekend, when Shipley edged home by two wickets.

Stainsby Hall ended their stutter in form, and moved back into third place in the table, by taking maximum points at Matlock.

In another low scoring game, Stainsby owed much to Andy Barlow, who top-scored with 41, as they were bowled out for 132.

Adam Burton (4-33), Mandla Mashimbyi (3-44) and Steve Haslam (3-38) shared the wickets for Matlock.

But Barlow then took 6-23 as Matlock's reply fell 11 runs short, despite 36 from Andy Smith.

Relegated Clifton continue to put a bad start behind them and notched their third successive win – sending Marehay to the bottom of the table in the process.

Marehay were bowled out for 101, despite 48 from Australian Daniel Watson, while Clifton captain Simon Moore took 3-42.

Clifton's win came in 26 overs with only two wickets down, Dan Flower scoring 37 and Riffatullah Mohammed finishing on 40 not out.

In Division 2N, Belper Meadows just missed the chance to make up some ground on leaders Clay Cross, as they were edged out by one wicket by South Wingfield, Ian Naylor's 56 not out guiding the visitors past a target of 146 all out.