Heavy defeat as Grappers struggle against near neighbours

GRAPPENHALL again found life tough in the Vivio Cheshire County League premier division when they went down heavily at home to near neighbours Toft.
The visitors were asked to bat first and did well to post a solid 231 all out after at one time being in trouble at 39-3.
Gaz Burns picked up 2-49 but Toft’s middle order fought back and it was not until Aussie Owen Lynch was introduced into the attack that Grappenhall began to claw their way back into the game. Lynch finished with excellent figures of 5-28.
Grappers’ innings also started badly and at 38-3 they were in an almost identical position to the visitors. But the middle order could not stage a similar fight back. Jamie Bye, 20 and Adam Green, 20 were top scorers as the team subsided to 104 all out.
Next Saturday, Grappers travel to former champions Hyde who are also struggling currently.
Grappenhall 2nd  continued their excellent form with a comfortable eight wicket victory at Oxton.
The home side were all out for 198, with Arthur Pennington taking 3-31 in eight overs.
Veteran Will Sharp hit a superb 113 as Grappenhall replied, well supported by fellow veteran Iain Wright, 55 not out.
Grappenhall 3rd made short work of Didsbury, restricting them to 121-9 before coasting to victory by eight wickets and 27 overs to spare.  Richard Wiles did the damage with the ball while Steve Rooney hit a rapid 60 when Grappers replied.
Warrington suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Davenham at Walton Lea.
They asked the visitors to bat first and restricted them to 190-6, Brad McIntosh taking 3-39. But then Warrington were tumbled out for 76, only two batsmen reaching double figures and Richard Heaney top scoring with 16.
But the tables were turned when Warrington 2nd travelled to Davenham and bowled the home side out for 98, Paul  Whelan taking 4-20, Chai Gadepalli 3-10  and  Rishav Manta 2-25.  Warrington lost their openers cheaply but Tom Higham, 38 and Ashley Scholes, 24, saw them home by six wickets.
Warrington 3rd went down by five wickets against Upton.
Put in, Warrington lost four quick wickets against a very good attack  and although Billy Gilbert, 41, Alam, 31 and Raj Soni, 23, fought back, were restricted to 124-9.
Fourteen-year-old Harry Charvill took 4-49 for Warrington, but the visitors cruised home by five wickets.
Warrington 4th lost by eight wickets at Appleton.  On a wicket of variable bounce they were restricted to 126-4, opener Andy Goodfellow hitting 61 not out and Paul Dempster 24.  Appleton replied with 130-2.
Lymm Oughtrington Park  raced to a seven wicket victory at Oughtrington Lane after visitors Congleton were held to a modest 148-8. Lymm replied with 150-3.
The “derby” match between Stretton and Appleton ended in a draw, with Appleton hanging on at 127-9 at the close.
Stretton had batted first and scored 175.
In the 2nd XI game, Appleton took the honours, hitting 126, Mike Arnold 38  and David Lomas 20. W. Qaymust took 5-29 and Umer Zeb 3-12. Stretton were bowled out for 91, Dave Sujith taking 3-25, Andy Thomas 4-15 and James Derbyshire 3-6..
A below-strength Glazebury  lost at Westminister Park where the home side batted first and hit 208. Dave Nicholson took 4-68 and Christopher Ayre 3-53. Glazebury were dismissed for 90, Anthony Meulman top scoring with 39..