Near-impossible battle for survival

GRAPPENHALL now face a near-impossible battle to avoid relegation from the Vivio Cheshire County League’s premier division after stumbling to a disappointing defeat at Macclesfield.
It was a game which at one point they found themselves in a position to win – but in the end fell well short.
Choosing to field first, they saw the home side coast to 57 before they lost a wicket.
At 150-3, Macclesfield looked well in charge but Albert Pennington, in his first senior bowl of the year, slowed things down with a fine spell of 5-40. Gaz Burns took 3-59 and the final target of 217 looked gettable.
But Grappers got off to a disastrous start, losing a wicket without a run on the board.
Jimmy McCoy started in belligerent style but fell with the score at 52, of which he had contributed 37.
Adam Roylance batted patiently and reached 54 before falling and Richard Green went for a solid 40.
At 138-5 and 16 overs to go, a win was still on the cards but the middle and late order were blown away and Grappers end on 172 all out.
Grappenhall are now just one point ahead of the bottom side and 45 points adrift from safety with four touch games to play – all away from home.
In division two, Warrington, who have topped the table for most of the season, were knocked off their perch when they were tumbled out for 69 by title rivals Bollington at Walton Lea.
The visitors won the toss and elected to field – which turned out to be a good decision as Warrington crashed out without a single batsman reaching 20.
Bollington hit off the runs for the loss of one wicket, leap-frogging Warrington to take top spot.
Warrington now have to get back to winning ways if they are to gain promotion as they are only 19 points ahead of the third placed club.
In the TACS Partnership Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park inflicted a crushing defeat on Bunbury after restricting the home side to 180-9.
Lymm’s reply came in the form of a devastating opening partnership from Paul Tong, 88 not out and Travis Scholes, 84 not out, to take them to a 10-wicket win.
The victory put Lymm 50 points clear of their nearest rival and looking set for promotion to the first division.
Lymm 2nd held Runcorn to a draw after the visitors had batted first and hit 213-8, Dave Evans taking 4-30.  Lymm never looked in the hunt, despite good innings from Graham Walmsley, 39 and Asim Shah, 31 but hung on at 132-8 to deny Runcorn victory.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Stretton stayed top despite losing at Stalybridge St Pauls who won the toss, batted first and reached 153-8.
Suhaib Arshad took 4-60.
Stretton were bowled out for with Arshad top scoring with 32.
Glazebury entertained Wistaston Village and went down by 80 runs after the visitors had hit 216-6. Hakeem Dahou took 3-30.  Glazebury were dismissed for 136 with Tom Wilkinson hitting 37 not out and Dave Acton 31.
Rylands went down at title-chasing Capenhurst who chose to bat first and hit 163-9 declared. Ryland were bowled out for 141, Geoff Shaw top scoring with 30.
Stretton 2nd bowled out Sandbach for 68 and knocked off the runs for the loss one one wicket, Mark Owens hitting an unbeaten 52.