Derby game was a close-fought duel

GRAPPENHALL’S much-anticipated first match of the season, against local rivals Warrington, was a hotly competed affair – but eventually ended in a three-wicket victory for Grappers.
It was a match between the demoted and the promoted – Grappenhall having dropped from the Vivio Cheshire Cricket League’s premier division and Warrington having been promoted to division one.
Grappenhall skipper Adam Roylance won the toss and asked the visitors to bat on a sunny but windy day.
It was the first game to be played on the newly re-laid outfield at Broad Lane.
Grappers started well with Arran McCabe removing Malcolm Agar with his first ball of the season to leave Warrington 1-1.
A partnership between Mike Rudd and Adam Green frustrated Grappers as a few chances went down. Gaz Burns replaced Arran after five overs and soon settled into a rhythm, firstly dismissing Green, caught behind, and then removing the visitors’ skipper Richard Heaney for a duck. Alex Matthews replaced Guest after he had toiled for 15 overs without much luck but with tidy figures of 0-23 including six maidens.
Alex bowled Rudd who had played well for his 46. Overseas player Ryan Ninan was then brought into the attack after Burns had finished his stint (2-39 off 10) and he bowled with control and skill to finish with 3-37 from 10 overs.
Late striking from Warrington’s Liam Heaphey, 60 not out saw the visitors to a competitive 191-8 at the interval.
Grappers’ reply started poorly as Iain Wright was dismissed for six, and once McCoy, 25 and Barnes seven, had departed the score was looking precarious at 44-3.
Skipper Roylance joined Ninan and kept the scoreboard ticking. Adam was caught for 22 to leave Grappers 99-4 with 25 overs left and the game most certainly in the balance.
Ryan continued to build partnerships with Matt Titchard and then Dan Osborne but the hosts were slipping behind the rate. When Ryan was dismissed for a fine 55, Grappers required 35 off four overs. Gaz Burns and Alex Matthews managed to up the ante and going into the last over all three results were still possible with the score at 180-7.
Matthews then decided to find the middle of the bat and creamed  successive fours to the offside boundary to secure a dramatic win. Burns finished 19 not out and Matthews 30 not out.
The 2nd XI game at Walton Lea went the other way, Warrington winning by seven wickets.
Grappenhall posted 192-8 with Jamie Bye hitting 88, well supported by Will Sharp with 41. But it wasn’t enough as Warrington eased home with an over to spare for the loss of only three wickets. Scott Woodland finished with 2-31 – the only bowler with figures of note.
In the Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park, newly promoted to division one, enjoyed a six wicket victory over Poynton at Oughtrington Lane.
Appleton, however, newly promoted from the Cheshire Alliance, were dismissed for 96 at Wilmslow Wayfarers who knocked off the runs with four wickets to spare.
Stretton had a good win over Cheshire County Officers after being dismissed for 103, E Akram 44. The County Officers subsided to 75 all out, A Ashraf taking 6-21.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Glazebury coasted to an eight wicket victory over Saughall after bowling them out for 84. Skipper Sam Stanier took 5-22 and David Acton 2-19.
Glazebury replied withy 85-2, Jack Warhurst hitting an unbeaten 48.
Glazebury 2nd started their season well with a formidable 265-7, Anthony Meulman hitting 91, when they took on Ashley.
Skipper David Nicholson took 3-36 as Ashley were dismissed for 118, with Phil McCue chipping in with 3-16.