Dream start continues

GRAPPENHALL’S dream start to the season continued with a fourth victory from four games when they travelled to Bramhall in the Chapel Press Cheshire County League.
The ground was saturated, but the two skippers agreed to play and on winning the toss, skipper Liam Parkinson had no hesitation in inserting the opposition.
Sam Guest struck immediately with the first ball of the match, a good leg side catch by the ‘keeper, and took a further early wicket to finish with 2- 9 off six overs.
Due to one end been a virtual mud patch, Grappenhall relied on Steve Titchard to bowl unchanged for 25 overs and he was rewarded with 3-46.
Meanwhile at the other end Jason Smith and Dan Hawke bowled economically, taking one and two wickets respectively.
Bramhall eventually crawled to 101-8 and one could sense another crushing win for Grappers.
Grappenhall`s approach was in stark contrast to their hosts with Gaz Burns making a rapid and belligerent 19 off just nine deliveries including two sixes before his partner Richard Green even got off the mark.
Green then went into overdrive and hit 33 from 24 balls, including four sixes and finished with 33. Luke McCoy, Luke made a brisk 13 and it was then left to Adam Roylance and Jason Smith to complete the demolition in a partnership of 38, finishing not out with 25 and 12 respectively.
The job was completed in the 16th over, with Grappenhall pocketing 25 points.
Grappenhall 2nd hosted Bramhall on a very wet deck and were put in on a soft green pitch. They lost wickets at regular intervals with only James McCoy, 34, Will Sharp, 22 and Rob Slater really troubling the scorers. Grappers capitulated to 119 all out inside 40 overs.
The pitch had dried out a little by the time the visitors batted and they reached the modest target for the loss of just two wickets, both of which went to Andy Hards at a cost of 32.
Grappenhall 3rd took on newly promoted New Brighton at Broad Lane and restricted them to 108-8 with debutant Dave Cooper taking 3-28, Ian Hall 2-20 and John Green 2-9.
Grappenhall’s openers hit off the runs without any trouble, Ian Hall finishing on 66 not out and Mark Tyreman on 32 not out.
Warrington found winning form at Stockport Georgians, batting first and h itting 168-9, Paul Farrar 55, Michael Rudd 36 and Tom Poole 27.
Georgians were dismissed for 117, Kyle Adams taking 5-37 and Poole 4-24.
Warrington 2nd went down by nine wickets against Brooklands at Walton Lea. They crawled to 106-6, Malcolm Gwatkin hitting 41 not out and Will Fleetwood 23. Brooklands coasted to 107-1.
Travelling to Irby, Warrington 3rd chalked up a useful win after batting first and totalling 129.
Brian Boys hit 64 and Wesley Charlton 21.
Irby were dismissed for 115, Charlton completing a fine all-round performance with 5-37 and Ari Appaji taking 3-23.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, newly promoted Glazebury travelled to Stretton and, in a low-scoring derby match, got a taste of what life can be like at a higher level.
On a rain affected wicket they dismissed the home side for 92. But then Glazebury crashed out for a meagre 38.
Lymm Oughtrington Park managed a one wicket victory at Cholmondeley.after the home side declared, perhaps rashly, on 148-8. Lymm claimed the points with 150-9.
At Oughtrington Lane, the Lymm second string had a good win over Lindow, dismissing the visitors for 58 after declaring on 144-4.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Appleton’s disappointing run continued with an 86-run defeat at the hands of Sandbach at Lyons Lane.
The visitors batted first and posted a formidable 203-9 before declaring. Chris Tomlinson took 4-58 and Chris McLennan 2-36.
Appleton were dismissed for 117, Antony Hurst top scoring with 45 and Lee Stoll 39.
Rylands 2nd amassed 224-4 declared thanks to sound batting from Alan Brady, 59, Andrew Mansfield 36 not out and Phil Mansfield 59 not out. But they couldn’t force victory, Mossley hanging on at 62-5 without making any attempt to chase down the target. Sujith Nair took 3-9.