GRAPPENHALL hung on for a draw to share the honours in an evenly matched Cheshire County League game against a strong Didsbury side at Broad Lane.
The visitors batted first and hit a formidable 237-8, despite accurate bowling by the Grappers attack – particularly Adam Roylance who finished with figures of 6-81.
Grappenhall responded positively with good innings from Richard Green, 47, Iain Wright, 38 and wicket keeper Liam Parkinson, 46.
But in the end they had to settle for a draw on 224-9 – just 13 runs short of the visitors’ total.
Grappenhall 2nd came out on top when they travelled to Didsbury. Batting first, they hit 211-9, with Will Sharp hitting 53, Rob Slater 37 and Brad Angel 37 not out. The home side went for the runs but fell short by 17 at 194, with Neil Titchard taking 5-49.
Opener Tom Hulme rescued Grappenhall 3rd against Heaton Mersey – batting right through the innings for an unbeaten 54 while no other batsman got into double figures.
Grappenhall finished on 101-7 in reply to Mersey’s 172-8. James Egerton, 2-35 and Mick Metcalfe, 2-21 were the most effective bowlers.
Warrington went down by 13 runs at Timperley. The home side batted first and reached 229-7, despite some good bowling from Matt Adams, 5-53.
James Hughes scored a useful 57 and Richard Heaney 36 as Warrington replied with 213.
Warrington 4th suffered a mauling at the hands of Sale who batted first and amassed 223-6. Peter Rydzkowski, 2-55 and John Burgess, 2-25 were Warrington’s most effective bowlers.
But the batsmen failed en masse, with only Mansoor Naseem, 20, reaching double figures as the Warrington side crashed out for 62.
Lymm Oughtrington Park earned a four wicket win over Winsford in the Meller Braggins Cheshire League. The home side were dismissed for 159 and Lymm cruised to 160-6.
Stretton enjoyed a two wicket victory over Disley, who were dismissed for 105. Paul Flanagan took 4-25 and Mark Critchley 3-16. Stretton replied with 106-8. Paul Critchley top scoring with 26.
Glazebury – enjoying a tremendous run in their first season in the Cheshire Alliance division one – moved into top spot with a fine win in the derby game with Appleton.
The home side batted first and were dismissed for 126. Tom Lomas top scored with 48 and Ehtisham Rashid contributed a useful 23 but veteran seamer Jon Gibbons bowled superbly to take 6-21. Dave Acton took 2-56.
Glazebury survived early shocks as three wickets fell for 17 runs but then Acton, 69 not out and Jack Warhurst, 36, not out did the necessary.
There was a good win, also, for Glazebury 2nd despite opponents Wistaston declaring on 199-4. Michael Nutkins took 2-27.
Gary Dunlop hit an undefeated 93 as Glazebury replied with 203-3. Nutkins hit 47.
Glazebury’s 3rd XI – which plays in the West Lancashire League – amassed 277-1 against Moorfield, with Jack Warhurst hammering an unbeated 159, Dave Action 67 and Saj Sadiq 43 not out.
The Widnes side responded with 209, Mark Rowan taking 4-44 and Liam Caine 4-40.
Rylands went down by six wickets against Haslington.
Eddie Platt, 48 and Ross Arrowsmith, 21, were the only batsmen to prosper as Rylands were dismissed for 104. Haslington hit 105-4, Arrowsmith proving the pick of the bowlers with 3-49.
Appleton 2nd lost by eight wickets at the hands of Offerton, batting first and reaching 176. Mike Arnold hit 36, Dave Hurst 40 and Gareth Bailey 31. The Stockport side replied with 177-2.
Appleton 4th were dismissed for 111 after their bowlers were hit for 194 by Audlem. Aamir Aslam took 6-38.
Rylands 2nd were held to a close draw by Mossley.
The Warrington side batted first and totalled 187-9, Andrew Barker 41, Andy Lowe 31 and Sean Peters 41. Mossley replied with 182-7. Sujith Nair, 3-46, Mark Green 2-37 and Michael Stanton, 2-23 were the picked of the Rylands bowlers.
Women’s cricket
THE Cheshire Women’s side which took on Warwickshire included two Appleton players.
Natalie Lyons was the pick of the Cheshire bowlers, taking 3-13 as Warwickshire hit 184-9. Nathalie Long, making her county debut, bowled well to restrict the scoring rate towards the end, finishing with 0-10 in four overs.
Cheshire were dismissed for 137, losing by 47 runs.
