IF Grappenhall manage to avoid relegation from the Vivio Cheshire County League premier division at the end of the season, it will largely be because of the winning draw they achieved at high-flying Toft.
Not because the 14 points they gained lifted them just clear of the relegation zone, nor because they effectively knocked Toft off the top spot.
But because their morale-boosting performance will have proved to them that they can still compete with the best teams in the league. On the day, Toft were second best in every department.
Electing to bat first on a near perfect wicket, Toft got off to an electric start despite the early loss. It was due to another virtuoso performance from Jimmy McCoy, who dispatched Toft`s bowling to all parts in making a brilliant 60 off just 40 deliveries. His knock included nine fours and one six – off the very first ball he received!
He was ably supported by Albert Pennington who continued his recent good form in putting together a classy 50, his first senior half century. Richard Green meanwhile was batting somewhere near his best, and helped maintain Grappenhall`s momentum as the middle order contributed little. At one stage a score of around the 300 mark looked on the cards, but once Richard was out for a fine 73, the innings stuttered a bit, with only Liam Parkinson, 17, and Alex Matthews, 11, getting into double figures. The innings closed in the 55th over at 272 all out – certainly a score Grappenhall would have settled for at the start.
Toft got off to a slow start against a much improved and disciplined Grappenhall attack, and it was Sam Guest who made early inroads into Toft`s powerful batting line-up, taking the first two wickets to fall, courtesy of a fine catch and superb stumping by Liam Parkinson.
Toft, 16-2. then gradually rebuilt their reply putting on 91 before the third wicket fell to the spin of Warwick Abrahim.
Gaz Burns was operating at the other end, and produced what was nearly a match winning effort, taking 5-48 in 14 overs. There were two further outstanding catches by Parkinson behind the stumps, however Toft negotiated the final 12 overs to hang on at 192-8.
Grappenhall 2nd lost at home to league leaders Timperley, who chased down Grappers’ total of 205. The defeat puts a dent in Grappers’ hopes of promotion.
It was finals day in the T20 Cup on Sunday – which was badly hit by the weather. Grappenhall lost in the semi-final in a game reduced to 10 overs to the eventual winners Chester Boughton Hall.
Marching on
Warrington’s march towards the division two title continued with a five wicket win over Stockport at Walton Lea.
Winning the toss they inserted the visitors who got off to a solid start but then saw the innings slip away as Nathan Green, 4-58, got among the wickets. At the interval they were on 174-9.
Warrington lost an early wicket but then Adam Green, 77 not out, Brad McIntosh, 32 and James Lewis, 32 got to grips with the bowling and Warrington coasted to 178-5 with plenty of overs to spare.
The result kept Warrington still comfortably top of the table.
Warrington 2nd earned a draw at Nantwich where the home side batted first and 225-5, Ryan Swart being the most successful Warrington bowler with 2-53.
When Warrington batted, five batsmen got into their 20s and Isaac Webster top-scored with 38 as the progressed to 184-8 to hang on for the draw.
In the TACS Partnership Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park continued in winning form when they entertained Chelford who won the toss and decided to bowl first.
Lymm were all out for 216, with openers Mathew Carr, 69 and Travis Scholes, 78, scoring the bulk of the runs.
Chelford were bowled out for 121, Blair Weller, 3-17, Mathew Bradshaw, 3-19 and Andy Hossack, 3-49, sharing the wickets.
The win left Lymm looking comfortable on top of the division two table, 56 points ahead of their nearest rival.
In the Cheshire Alliance first division, the top-of-the-table “derby” between Stretton and Appleton went Stretton’s way when Appleton were bowled out for a disappointing 112.
The home side hit off the runs for the loss of three wickets and the result pushed Appleton down to third place.
Stretton 2nd had a big win at Hartford where they batted first and hit 206-8, Mark owen 41 and Farhad Qayum 63. The home side were bowled out for 98, B Sharma 4-7 and G Stone 3-10.
Glazebury travelled to Saughall where they recorded a big win.
Batting first, they reached 186-8, opener Wayne Hargreaves hitting 79. The home side had no answer to the pace of Dave Acton, 3-23 and Sam Stanier, 4-12 and crashed out for 35.
It was a similar story at Glazebury where the Saughall 2nd string were dismissed for 57, Chris Ayre taking 5-21 and Dave Nicholson 4-32 before Glazebury hit off the runs without loss, Ian Black hitting 35 not out and Harry Barton 19 not out.
Rylands enjoyed a five wicket win at Old Parkonians where the home side were bowled out for 202.
