Grappers still languish in bottom three

GRAPPENHALL continue to languish in the bottom three of the Vivio Cheshire County League’s premier division after going down by five wickets at Hyde.
Winning the toss, Grappenhall chose to bat first on what proved to be a two paced track and were soon in trouble at 45-3.
There were useful contributions from Richard Green, run out for 26, and Will Sharp 28 and most of the middle/late order got a start. But no one except Alex Mathews with 32 late in the innings went on to post a significant score.
The final total of 172-8 never looked as though it would be enough on the small Hyde ground.
In reply Hyde themselves got off to a sticky start finding themselves three down with just 38 on the board, with Alex Mathews eventually going on to take 2-31 and taking a stunning catch to cap a fine all round performance.  Sam Guest took 1-39 in a lengthy spell and the other wicket taker was Adam Roylance, 2-29. However the home team, after their early wobbles eventually ran out comfortable winners reaching 173-5 in the 34th over.
Grappers picked up seven points from the game and there were some encouraging signs in their performancces . But they will have to be at their best when they play Nantwich at home next week, with Lancashire`s prolific Liam Livingstone in their ranks.
Grappenhall 2nd  enjoyed a four wicket victory over Middlewich at Broad Lane.
The visitors batted first and reached 181-7, Art Pennington taking 3-39 and Ben Cagna 3-57.  Matt Brown hit 49 as Grappers replied with 182-6.
But the performance of the weekend came in Grappenhall 3rd’s game at Stockport which they won by four wickets after an incredible innings from Iain Wright (pictured).
The home side set a formidable target when they hit 228-7, David Seed taking 3-47.
Grappers replied with 232-6 in 38.2 overs and Wright, batting at number four, hit an awesome 162, holing out at the end when only one run was required for victory.
Club secretary Paul Tyerman said: “This was one  of the best knocks you are ever likely to see in amateur cricket.  A truly match winning knock and one of the best that any of us have ever seen.”
Warrington’s promotion challenge suffered a slight setback when they were forced to hang on for a draw against Widnes at Walton Lea.
The visitors batted first and reached 223-9, despite a good performance from Ashley Scholes, who took 4-63.
Warrington opener Malcolm Agar hit a useful 43 and skipper Richard Heaney contributed a defiant 34 not out as Warrington finished on 140-7.
Warrington 3rd suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Didsbury, collapsing for a  meagre 68, of which Robert Dempster scored 20, and then seeing the visitors coast to 70-1.
In the TACS Partnership Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park registered a 32 run win over Chester County Officers – Nafees Din hitting an unbeaten 102 as Lymm posted 185-5.
The Chester side were dismissed for 153, Blair weller taking 3-35 and Andy Hossack 3-27.
In the Cheshire Alliance , Appleton went down against Wistaston Village at Lyons Lane. The visitors batted first and reached 172-9, the Appleton bowlers sharing the wickets. Skipper Tom Lomas hit 52 when Appleton replied, but got little support and the side were all out for 112.
Glazebury stormed to a seven wicket win over The Groves, who were bowled out for 67. The evergreen Jon Gibbons took 3-18, Tom Wilkinson 2-9 and Scott Sparks 2-0. Glazebury replied with 68-3 with Jack Warhurst hitting 21 and  Sparks 22 not out.
Veteran Simon Green  hit an unbeaten 101 and Phil McCue 64 not out as Glazebury 2nd raced to 183-1 after Bromborough had posted 180-5, Christopher Ayre taking 3-28.
Stretton 2nd  defeated Stalybridge St Pauls by nine wickets after restricting the m to 123-7, W Qayum taking 3-16.  Ben Southworth hit 64 not out and Forhad Qayum 40 not out.