Grappers’ disastrous season continues

GRAPPENHALL’S disastrous season in the Vivio Cheshire County League  continued with another heavy defeat to high flyers Alderley Edge, who cruised to an eight wicket victory at Broad Lane.
The visitors invited Grappenhall to bat first on a decent, if slightly dry wicket, and just about everyone got in and then got out! Five batsmen got into the twenties, but only one player, Warwick Abrahim, went beyond in making a decent 42. With a fast outfield and an unremarkable bowling attack, it was disappointing that Grappenhall could only post a below par 224.
In reply Alderley made a brisk start, and raced to 34 before Saqib Mahmood took the first wicket. It was 98 runs later when the second wicket fell through a stumping by stand-in keeper Iain Wright off the spin of Abrahim.
Alderley continued to march on relentlessly towards their victory target, which they duly reached in the 48th over for the loss of just those two wickets. Grappenhall used seven bowlers but none really threatened.
In taking just eight points from the game, Grappenhall find themselves in bottom place in the league,  But a couple of wins and some decent draws in the remaining games could yet see them survive the drop, as four clubs are all in the same dog fight for survival.
Next week sees league leaders Toft entertain Grappenhall, while on Sunday it is Finals Day of the T20 at Upton. This sees Grappenhall in a re-match with last year’s eventual winners, Chester Boughton Hall in one of the two semi finals been played.
Grappenhall 2nd continued with their good run of form to win at Brooklands by six wickets.
The home side were dismissed for 156 on a poor wicket with skipper Matt Titchard doing the damage with 4-53 and Ben Cagna with 3-33 inside only 46.
Grappers’ reply was comprehensive as they reached the victory target with 13 overs to spare for the loss of only four wickets. Sam Baxter was the match winner with the bat with 50 not out, ably supported by Arthur Pennington with 44.
Grappenhall 3rd ran out comfortable winners against bottom of the table Northwich.
Put into bat on a poor wicket, Northwich were bowled out for a miserable 56 in only 22 overs. Josh Hayes bowled exceptionally to pick up 4-10 in a six over spell while the rest of the wickets were shared around.
Grappers coasted to victory in only 10 overs with 14 year olds Arthur Pennington and James Rooney ensuring a 10 wicket victory as they finished 34 and 19 not out respectively. The win keeps Grappers second in the table with only six games remaining.
Warrington stay on course for promotion after an exciting one wicket win at Alvanley which left them 30 points of their nearest rivals and well ahead of the chasing pack.
Alvanley batted first and reached 215-9. Nathan Green took 4-82 and Brad McIntosh 3-79.
Opener Tom Clutterbuck hit 45 as Warrington replied with 218-9.Adam Green hit a fine 55 and Green followed up his bowling performance with 31 not out as the game reached its climax.
Warrington 2nd won by 71 runs against visiting Middlewich, who were bowled out for 159. Simon Swain, 65, James Lewis 43 and Joel Chaderton, 40 were the main Warrington run scorers while Simon Hewitt took 5-30.
Traveling to Irby, Warrington 4th restricted the home side to 144-7, R Dempster taking 4-27. Warrington reached their target with four wickets to spare, Dave Selvan top scoring with 36.
In the TACS Partnership Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park stayed on top of the division two table with a fine, three wicket victory over Haslington.
Matthew Bradshaw took 3-60 as Haslington were held to 202-8 and Lymm then marched to 204-7, openers Steve Knowles, 55 and Paul Tong, 43 getting the tone of the innings and Bradshaw following up his bowling performance with 41 not out.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Appleton bowled out Stalybridge St Pauls for 128 in 40 overs at Lyons Lane, skipper Tom Lomax taking 4-34 and A Aslam 4-30.
Appleton then raced to 130-2, Lomax hammering 75 not out and Antony Hurst 24.
Appleton 2nd hit 120 at Knutsford and then bowled the home side out for 131.
But Appleton 3rd went down at Audlem hitting 185, with Marcus Pepper hitting an unbeaten 63 and Revi Elaprolu scoring 53, only to see the home side chase the runs down for the loss of four wickets.
Appleton 4th went down by 85 runs against Port Sunlight who batted first and hit 186, Toby White taking 5-19. Appleton replied with 101, Paul White top scoring with 24.
Stretton inflicted a heavy defeat on local rivals Glazebury.
V Asraf hit a stunning 166 and Suhaid Arshad 47 as Stretton amassed 265-8, despite Sam Stanier’s outstanding bowling which earned him 7-81.
Glazebury crumbled before the bowling on Nikhil Bahl, 3-14 and Ben Southworth, 3-7 and were all out for 55, Dave Mason battling for 52 balls to end up 15 not out.
Stretton 2nd went down by wickets against Bowdon Vale, posting 156 and then seeing Bowdon coast to 157-5.
Glazebury 2nd had a fine nine wicket victory over Frodsham, restricting the home side to 150-9, with Christopher Ayre taking 5-48.
Anthony Meulman hit 67 and Ian McCue 42 not out as Glazebury replied with 154-1.
Rylands 2nd were bowled out for 114 at Old Parkonians after the home side had hit 150, Garry Moors taking 4-62 and Andrew Barber 4-46.
Rylands top scorer was Andrew Mansfield, with 26.