GRAPPENHALL picked up a useful 24 points with a 29-run victory at Hale Barns in the Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League division two.
The victory kept “Grappers” promotion bid on course and also provided 17-year-old off spinner Sam Baxter with career best figures of 5-63. Andy Tetlow bagged 3-33.
Grappenhall were asked to bat first and a revised batting order gave Ian Barnes a chance at opening. He didn’t disappoint, blasting a fine 60 from 73 balls.
But the only support came from skipper Steve Titchard, 43 and wicket keeper Liam Parkinson, who hit a quick 22. The visitors finished on 188 leaving Hale Barns 48 overs to bat.
In form Tetlow struck in his second over and the home side were soon struggling at 26-2.
Hale Barns then dug in, however, and the game looked to be drifting towards a draw until Baxter took his first wicket. The game then gathered momentum with wickets falling but runs also coming due to aggressive field placing. At 132-6 and 13 overs left the game was in the balance but skipper Titchard persevered with his aggressive fielding and backed his two youngest bowlers – Baxter and Tetlow.
They rewarded him by dismissing the last four batsmen for 27 runs.
Grappenhall 2nd entertained Cheadle Hulme who won the toss and batted first. Poor bowling and fielding late in the innings enabled the visitors to reach 224 in 50 overs – probably 50 more than they should have been allowed.
Grappenhall were rocked by the loss of two early wickets with only 37 on the board but Steve Hartley, 63 and Nick Sharp, 28, repaired the damage with a fine partnership of 86 before both fell within an over of each other.
A target of 102 from 17 overs looked daunting but Dean Langhorne struck a quick fire 21 and Mike Holden, 40 and Matt Titchard, 27 not out were up to the challenge, with a timely 11 from Sam Guest. The win gave Grappers 25 points over a team challenging for the leadership.
Warrington had to settle for a draw after getting agonisingly closed to victory over visiting Bollington.
The visitors batted first and were all out for 226, Steve Heydon taking 6-50.
Warrington’s run-chase depended heavily on Liam Heaphy’s unbeaten 70 and at the close they were just two runs short of victory with four wickets in hand.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Glazebury went down heavily at home to Langley, who batted first and hammered 213-8 declared. Dave Acton, 4-17 and Jon Gibbons, 2-36, were the pick of the Glazebury bowlers.
But after tea the Glazebury batting was disappointing as the side were dismissed for 101, with Ian McCue, 25 not out, top scoring.
Glazebury 2nd had an exciting one-wicket win at Capenhurst.
The home side batted first and reached 186, with David Nicholson bowling steadily to take 3-34. After the loss of an early wicket, Glazebury batted aggressively with most batsmen making a contribution. Wayne Hargreaves top-scored with 51 and skipper Andy Durrington 34. The last pair were at the wicket, with just two overs remaining, when the winning run was hit.
Appleton drew their game at Stalybridge after the home side batted first and made 179-9. Ryan Swart took 3-66 for Appleton.
A run chase followed with Appleton reaching 167-8 when the overs ran out. Rob Clarke was top scorer with 66.
Appleton 2nd drew with visiting Mossley, who batted firest and hit a formidable 222-7 declared. James Darbyshire took 3-29 and Stuart Bate 3-73. Appleton responded with 193-5, Gareth Bailey top scoring with an unbeaten 57.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park managed to salvage a draw against visiting
Weaverham.
The visitors batted first and reached 211-6 declared. Lymm were 151-7 at the close, Miller top scoring with 79
Women’s Cricket
Appleton Tigers went down by 44 runs against Oakmere who hit 105-3 in the Cheshire Women’s Twenty20 Cup competition.
The Tigers were never in the hunt with Amy Page the only player to reach 20 in a total of 61-8.
Appleton will play in the Plate semi-finals as the fourth placed finishers in the division.
