Grappers crash to defeat

GRAPPENHALL’S fine start to the season in the Vivio Cheshire County League came to an abrupt halt when they thrashed by nine wickets by Neston at Broad Lane.
Batting first, Grappers’ usually solid batting line-up crumbled to a mix of good bowling and rash shots, with only Liam Parkinson, 42, make a score of any note. The side were back in the pavilion with only 101 on the board.
Worse was to come as the home side put Grappenhall’s attack to the sword and coasted to 104-1.
It was in the 2nd XI game at Neston when Grappenhall were dismissed for 177, Ian Barnes 54 and Will Sharp 21.
The visitors hit off the runs for the loss of just three wickets.
Just to complete a miserable weekend for the Broad Lane club, the 3rd XI, playing their first league match of the season, suffered defeat at Middlewich.
Bowling first they restricted the home side to 142-9 but were then tumbled out for 78.
Warrington were involved in an exciting tie against Heaton Mersey, who batted first and were held to 166-7, Kyle Adams taking 3-60 and Ashley Scholes 2-36. Warrington looked to be struggling, despite 31 from Richard Heaney but some late hitting from Adams, who scored 42 not out, enabled them to reach 166 all out.
Warrington 2nd hit 157-9 against Bramhall, Tusher Mahambrey hitt 31,Simon Swain 28 and Jordan Mitchell 21. But Bramhall lost only four wickets reaching 160 – William Gilbert taking 2-25.
Warrington 3rd entertained Urmston who batted first and declared on 257-4. Warrington were bowled out for 150, Tom Higham top scoring with 34.
It was a similar story for Warrington 4th, also playing Urmston who declared on 252-2 with a depleted Warrington being dismissed for 107, R Manta 36.
In the TACS Partnership Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park hit an impressive 247-7 at Winnington Park, P Tong 74, T Scholes 88 and N Din 41. But they had to settle for a draw with the home side on 144-8 at the close, M Bradshaw taking 4-29.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Glazebury went down by 100 runs at Stalybridge St Pauls where the home side totalled 141, Sam Stanier taking 4-21 and John Gibbons 3-39. Glazebury’s reply was an embarrassing 41, with Dean Lord, 12, the only batsman to reach double figures.
Glazebury 2nd were dismissed for 87, Ian McCue 24 and Tom Wilson 22 after the Stalybridge second string had batted first and totalled 145, despite Wilkinson’s impressive 5-23.
Stretton were on good form, batting first and reaching 155-7 and then dismissing visiting Old Parkonians for 86.
But Stretton 2nd went down heavily despite declaring on what looked a match-winning total of 235-8 at Wilmslow. The home side replied with 238-5.
Appleton 2nd were bowled out for 103 at home to Port Sunlight, Ed Sygrove top scoring with 41. The visitors cantered to 104-3, Chris Tomlinson taking 2-12.
Appleton 3rd hit 164-8, against the Groves, John Ormson 42 and Kevin Lomas 40 nott out. But the visitors reached their target with four wickets to spare, despite good bowling from S Lancaster, 5-57
Rylands suffered a humiliating defeat at Knutsford, where the home side declared on 207-8, Sam Mulholland 3-54 and Graeme Rowlands 3-38. The visitors were then dismissed for 46, of which Sean Peters hit 21.
But the 2nd XI game at Rylands ended in a draw despite Knutsford reaching 267-6. Rylands managed to hang on at 178-7.