Title hopes take a knock

GRAPPENHALL’S title hopes in division one of the Chapel Press Cheshire County League took a further knock with their second successive home defeat – this time at the hands of bottom club Heaton Mersey.
Skipper Liam Parkinson won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first on a wicket that appeared to be bowler-friendly.
At 19-2, Heaton Mersey were struggling but a rally followed and in the end they put together a respectable 169-9.
Sam Guest, with 3-36 was the pick of Grappers’ bowling.
In response Grappenhall made a faltering start, and soon found themselves at 35-4 2i5h the top four all out cheaply.
Aussie Jason Smith, 61, firstly in tandem with Liam Parkinson, 13 and then Mike Sambell, 29 began positively, with a mixture of solid defence, and some typically powerful boundary shots.
The tail offered little resistance and Grappenhall ended up 145 all out.
The result was not too damaging for Grappers, other results going in their favour. But questions are being asked about why the team have gone off the boil after sweeping all before them in the early part of the season.
The bowling has been inconsistent, leaking too many runs, and the normally strong batting has fallen short.
Grappenhall 2nd won at Urmston.
Grappenhall 3rd – still unbeaten this season – were put in by Heaton Mersey on a slow, green track. But openers Ian Hall and Mark Tyerman had 20 on the board inside five overs and both reached 50 in only 15 overs.
They carried on, aided by some poor fielding, both passing 100 with relative ease.
Tyreman eventually fell for 108 off only 92 balls, the opening partnership being worth 223. Hall carried on to reach 133 before he was dismissed.
Grappenhall eventually declared on 262 with the Heaton Mersey skipper ruing his decision to bowl first.
Hall took the new ball for Grappers and took four of the first Mersey batsmen to leave the home side teetering on 15-5 off 10 overs.
Wickets continued to fall and with the home side on 59-8 and the skies darkening, the umpires requested that Grappenhall take off their quick bowlers.
Paul Tyerman promptly bowled the ninth batsman first ball and Albert Pennington took his third wicket to dismiss Mersey for 68.
Hall finished with 4-5 and Pennington with 3-38.
As the players left the field, the heavens opened.
Warrington cruised to a useful win at Upton where they batted first and declared on 191-7. Malcolm Agar hit 65, Paul Farrar 46 and Chris Kirby 31 not out. Upton’s batsmen struggled for runs as paceman Kyle Adams took 6-46 and Chai Gadepalli took 4-8.
Warrington 2nd also came out on top against the Upton second string.
Nick Houghton took 4-40 and Ryan Swart 3-20 as Upton were restricted to 149-9.
But Warrington got off to a bad start with their reply, the early batsmen failing and it being left to Ian Sleigh, 21 not out and Simon Hewitt, 41, to take them to the narrowest of victories by one wicket.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, Glazebury dropped into the relegation zone after slumping to a heavy defeat at Pott Shrigley.
The home side batted first and reached 151-9, Jack Warhurst picking up five wickets. Glazebury slumped to 58 all out.
Stretton went down by five runs against Alderley Park, who batted first and reached 152-8.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Appleton chalked up a good win over Old Parkonians.
Brothers Dave and Antony Hurst opened the batting for Appleton and got them off to a fine start, both hitting 54. Andrew Tyrer followed up with 31 and Richard Clarke with an unbeaten 46 as the side reached 217-7.
Parkonians were bowled out for 135, Danny Oliver taking 3-41, Edward Pugh 3-34 and Chris Tomlinson 4-20
Appleton 2nd went down by five wickets against Tranmere Victoria.
Ali Sharif hit a fine 53 but Appleton could only must 118 and Vics had no trouble in responding with 122-5, despite a fine spell from Aamir Rashid, 3-40.
Rylands 2nd coasted to a nine wicket win over Hartford, who were dismissed for 87, Michael Stanton 4-17 and Saajan Ramji 3-10.
Rylands replied with with 91-1, Phil Osment 79 not out.