Title bid takes a knock after disappointing performance

GRAPPENHALL’s bid for promotion to the Vivio Cheshire County League premier division took a knock when they were beaten by six wickets by third placed Oulton Park.
They picked up only three points from a disappointing performance and that enabled the visitors to close the gap between them and Grappers to three points.
Fortunately leaders Didsbury also lost so the league title remains in reach of all three sides.
Grappers lost the toss and were invited to bat on a  hard, green wicket.
Skipper Adam Roylance went in the first over and with two more wickets going quickly Grappenhall were struggling on 26-3.
A partnership between Jamie Bye, 39 and Pete Barnes, 28 seemed to settle things down until Barnes was disastrously run out.
Ryan Ninan and Bye began to rebuild again but then Ninan went for 20 to leave Grappers reeling.
Wickets continue to fall and the side were all out for 129.
They needed a fast start out of the blocks but luck evaded them as the first wicket did not fall until 60.
Ninan finished with 2-51 but the visitors reached their target comfortably.
Grappers travel to fourth-placed Sale on Saturday and then visit Hyde on Sunday in the semi-final of the Cheshire Cup.
Grappenhall 2nd produced a remarkable performance away at league leaders Upton. Having lost to the  bottom of the table side last week, it was a  a complete turnaround with Grappers dominating to win by 111 runs. Grappers posted a strong 242-4 after having 2-2 at one stage.
Ben Bodha fell just short of what would have been an excellent ton as he was trapped LBW for 98. He was well supported by Iain Wright with a marvellous 87 and Matt Brown with 31.
The bowlers strangled the life out of the normally fluent Upton batting line-up, Matt Titchard producing an excellent spell of spin bowling to take 5-29 off 15 overs to put Grappers in the box seat. With the remaining wickets shared around Upton were bowled out for 131 with seven overs remaining.
Grappenhall 3rd won a tight game at home to Marple, posting 221-6 off 45 overs with James Jenkinson scoring an excellent 90.
Grappers bowled well in the second half and Marple only fleetingly looked like chasing down the total. Josh Hayes finished with 4-44 as Marple were bowled out for 170.
Warrington managed to hang on for a draw at Davenham after the home side had hit 252-7, Huw Stone taking 3-68.
Opener Malcolm Agar hit 80 as Warrington replied with 179-9. Adam Green hit a useful 30.
Warrington 2nd also drew in the return match at Walton Lea when Davenham batted first and reached 221-7. Warrington were 203-7 when the overs ran out.
In the Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park raced to a six wicket victory over Disley at Oughtrington Lane.
The visitors were dismissed for 169, Syed Khan taking 6-26. Lymm’s reply of 171-4 was led by Jonathan Fletcher, who hammered 93.
The Lymm second string also won travelling to Woodford and restricting the home side to 151-9, Jake Hughes taking 3-36 and Robert Hutton 3-34.
Aidan Ferrie hit an unbeaten 57 as Lymm replied with 152-5.
Appleton picked up a seven wicket win at Langley after dismissing the home side for 102, Aamir Rashid taking 5-11 and Joe Cooper 3-26.
Appleton strolled to 107-3, Tom Lomas hitting 40 not out and Ali Sharif 33.
Stretton 2nd were held to 135-9 at Oxton, Umar Nasser top scoring with 63. The home side reached their target with seven wickets to spare, despite Mark Owens taking 2-49.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Glazebury hung on for a draw at Westminister Park after the home side had totalled 254-7. Dave Ashton took 4-60.
Glazebury were 153-8 at the close, skipper Sam Stanier unbeaten on 42.
Appleton 4th could muster only 87-9 when they entertained Kerridge, who replied with 89-8.
Andrew Thorley, 23, was Appleton’s top scorer while Peter Hesford took 3-17 on a day dominated by bowlers.