Grappers climb to second place

GRAPPENHALL climbed to second place in the Vivio Cheshire County League ECB premier division with a fine win at in-form Urmston.
The match was reduced to 70 overs due to morning rain and a wet outfield and on winning the toss, Grappers’ skipper Richard Green inserted the home side.
At 41-2, Grappenhall were in control but then Urmston accelerated to reach a very respectable 180-4 from their allotted 35 overs. The bowlers stuck to their task with a greasy ball and claimed one wicket each, Sam Guest conceding just 28 runs from nine overs.
Grappenhall began their reply briskly with James McCoy hitting 65 and Liam Parkinson 44. Big hitting Ian Barnes lived up to his reputation with 22 not out off just eight deliveries and Grappers reached their target with more than six overs to spare.
The 2nd XI game at Broad Lane went Urmston’s way, however. Grappenhall were asked to bat first and hit a formidable 249-6. Debutant Michael Parton soon showed his class and hit a fine 131.
The visitors started in style and raced to 60 in nine overs and although skipper Matt Titchard took 3-55 it was overall a disappointing bowling performance. Urmston reached their target in the 48th over and with six wickets to spare.
Grappenhall 3rd fought out a draw with Urmston 3rd, Grappers batting first and totalling 258-6 and Urmston finishing on 170-8.
Grappenhall skipper Rob Slater hit a belligerent 126, reaching his century when he was dropped on the boundary, the hapless fielder spilling the ball over the rope for four! Albert Pennington hit an excellent 78 before being run out.
Urmston got off to a poor start and never looked like getting the runs.
Warrington got the better of a drawn game with Alvanley at Walton Lea. Batting first, they reached 184-4,Will Fleetwood hitting an unbeaten 75 and James Rudd 43.
Kyle Adams took 3-30 and Ben McIntosh 3-22 as Alvanley struggled for runs and at the close they were 113 with one wicket remaining.
Warrington 2nd had a good win at Bowdon where they hit 229-5, Tushar Mahambrey 85, Simon Swain 52, Joseph Quinn 34 not out and Tom Clutterbuck 32 not out. Bowdon were bowled out for 110, Simon Hewitt taking 4-11 and Aaron Chaderton 3-9.
Warrington 4th hit 140-7 against Irby, Mansoor Naseem top scoring with 55 and Matthew Jackson 49. But the target did not trouble Irby who coasted to 141-4.
In the Cheshire Alliance, struggling Glazebury hit form at last with a fine victory over Wilmslow at Hurst Lane.
Batting first, they reached 214, opener Dave Acton hitting 88 and Hakeem Dahou 36 not out and Patrick Hutchinson, 22, adding some late runs. Wilmslow were dismissed for 178, the evergreen Jon Gibbons taking 5-33 and Sam Stanier steaming in with 4-62.
Glazebury 2nd hung on for a draw at Wilmslow after the home side hammered 221-6, skipper Ian Black taking 3-19. Glazebury were 186-9 at the close, Ian McCue hitting 40 and Matthew Shailer 32.
High flyers Stretton were held to a draw at home by Saughall. Electing to bat first, the home side hit 196-9 declared but the visitors held on at 153-6.
Stretton 2nd won by two wickets at Westminster Park after the home side batted first and reached 188-9. Stretton reached 192-8.
Appleton coasted to a comfortable victory over wooden-spooners Ellesmere Port, declaring on 193-4 with Richard Clarke hitting 103 not out and Ali Sharif 52. Ellesmere Port were bowled out for 53, Tom Lomas taking 5-22.
Appleton 3rd were bowled out for 83 at Knutsford, A Wright hitting 30 of them. The home side then strolled to 86-2.
Rylands 2nd went down against Rostherne, being bowled out for 102, Joseph Threadgold 35, Phil Mansfield 36 in reply to Rostherne’s 141-6.