Heavy defeat hits title hopes

GRAPPENHALL’S hopes of climbing to the top spot in the Vivio Cheshire County League premier division took a heavy knock when they went down by nine wickets to Chester Boughton Hall at Broad Lane.
The defeat, which earned Grappers only two points, saw them remain in fourth place in the league.
But the points difference between them and top club Hyde – who they meet next week – has widened to a hefty 53.
Chester won the toss and put Grappenhall in on a green, softish wicket which offered considerable assistance to the bowlers.
At 41-5, it looked as if Grappers were heading for an embarrassingly low total.
But Ian Barnes hit 89 from 70 deliveries, including five sixes while Ben Bhoda occupied the other end with a useful 18 to take the total to 157.
This was never enough, however, and Chester swiftly showed their intentions by racing to 110 before losing their first and only wicket.
Former Lancashire player Warren Goodwin hit 95 not out as Chester reached their target in only the 22nd over.
Grappenhall 2nd also took a beating at Chester where the home side hammered 280-2 and bowled out Grappers for 131, of which Iain Wright hit 56.
It was left to Grappenhall 3rd to claim a victory when they visited bottom club Bramhall in a relegation dog fight.
Bramhall were put in first and reached 188-8 after recovering from a poor start. Grappenhall lost two quick wickets but then Kerry Anderson, 69 and Ben Clissold, 82, came together to set up a fine victory.
Grappenhall fell at the final hurdle in the Cheshire County League Twenty20 competition.
After defeating favourites Hyde in the semi finals – skipper Richard Green hitting superb 69 and Adam Roylance 62 – they took on Chester Boughton Hall in the final.
Chester elected to bat first and were soon tottering at 42-5. But they recovered to reach 169-8.
Roylance was again in form and hammered a brilliant 94 off 59 balls, including sevens fours and seven sixes.
At 144-4 in the 18th over, Grappers lost three quick wickets trying to match the run-rate and finished just 12 runs short of what would have been a memorable win.
In division two, Warrington got the better of a drawn game against Poynton.
Batting first, Warrington reached 210-6, Will Fleetwood hammering 105.
Poynton never looked in the hunt and were hanging on at 165-9 at the close. Kyle Adams took 5-67 and Brad McIntosh 3-39.
Warrington 2nd also drew when they travelled to Sale.
The home side batted first and amassed 306-4. Warrington replied with with 261-8, Tushar Mahambrey hitting 56 and Jan Derek Stoker 81.
Warrington 3rd beat Upton by six wickets at Walton Lea. It was a good game for Dan Rudd who took 3-31 as the visitors were bowled out for 180 and then hit 61 as Warrington replied with 181-4.
Away at Upton, Warrington 4th hit 233-8, with Dominic Hastings hitting 98 and Les Connolly 46.
Upton held on at 160-5, Mansoor Naseem taking 4-25.
In the Cheshire Alliance, struggling Glazebury lost by just two runs at Saughall after bowling out the home side for 108.
Saughall were 71-0 but then Dave Acton, 6-26 and Sam Stanier 4-41 ripped through their batting.
Glazebury got off to a disastrous start and were struggling at 24-5 until Callum Morgan hit a sensible 51. At 107-7 victory seemed certain until Tom Wilkinson, 26, was caught on the boundary.
At home to Westminster Park, Glazebury 2nd were bowled out for 142, with veteran Simon Green top scoring with 44. The visitors reached their target with four wickets to spare, Christopher Ayre taking 3-27.
Stretton went down against visiting Wistaston Village, who batted first and totalled 197-9. Stretton were bowled out for 148.
Appleton won by two wickets at Stalybridge St Pauls, Ed Pugh taking 4-44 and Amir Aslam 4-38 as the home side were dismissed for 175.
Martin Cooper hit 70 not out and Aslam 39 as Appleton reached 178-8.
Appleton won by four wickets in the final when they took on Capenhurst at Lyons Lane
The visitors batted first and hit 192-4 but Appleton, pacing their innings well, reached their target in the final over, losing six wickets in the process.