Grappers lose key match in relegation struggle

GRAPPENHALL lost a key match at home to Oulton Park as their struggle to stay in the Vivio Cheshire League Premier division reached a crucial stage.
The teams around them in the table all dropped points, but Grappers only picked up three points asa their batting turned in a disappointing performance. The result left them still second-to-bottom in the table.
Grappers bowled well early on and picked up some cheap wickets but the visitors’ middle order fought back to enable them to post 185-7 from 55 overs.
It should not have been a daunting target but apart from skipper Adam Roylance, 41, no other batsman got to grips with the Oulton Park attack and struggle to keep the scoreboard ticking over. In the end they were all out for 108 with 18 overs to spare.
Grappenhall 2nd won comfortably at Oulton Park as they chased down 191 to win with eight overs to spare. Matt Titchard was the pick of the Grappers bowlers finishing with 6- 36 off 15 excellent overs, with Ben Cagna picking up two wickets.
In reply Steve Rooney scored a half century and Iain Wright in sqashbuckling 57 not out to help Grappers win for the loss of only five wickets.
Grappenhall 3rd won as they chased down Sale’s 196 to win in the final over.
Sale’s middle order built a strong partnership to post a decent total when earlier disciplined bowling had kept things tight. Sale finished 196 -5 off their 45 overs. In reply Grappers got off to a fantastic start as Ben Bravington and Richard Wiles put on over 100 for the first wicket. Bravington was out for 50 and Wiles was eventually dismissed for an excellent 85 as Grappers stumbled over the line with sux wickets down but only three balls to spare.
Warrington snatched victory by one wicket in a closely-fought match with Christleton at Walton Lea.
The win kept them in fourth place in division two although the width of the gap between them and the promotion places is beginning to look unpromising.
Winning the toss they asked the visitor to bat first and restricted them to 195-8.
Jonathan Fletcher took 3-25 and there were two wickets each for Dan Rudd and Ashley Scholes.
In reply, Warrington lost three cheap wickets but the middle order came to their rescue, Fletcher top scoring with 64, skipper James Rudd 41 and Rudd chipping in with 29 to take the score to 159-6.
There then followed a mini collapse and it was left to the last pair to scramble the last few runs.
Warrington 2nd had a more comfortable eight wicket win at Urmston after inserting the home side and bowling them out for 157.
Phil Whelan took 4-32 and there were two wickets each for A Shoalib and Ben McCarthy.
Warrington coasted to victory at 161-2, Brendan Morris hitting 72 not out, Harley Barrstt 52 and Simon Swain 25.
In the UKfast Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park won a closely-fought low scoring game against Barnton at Oughtrington Lane.
Batting first, Lymm were back in the pavilion for a modes 137, Sean Day top scoring with 32.
But the visitors struggled for runs and fell short by eight runs, Syed Khan taking 6-57.
Lymm 2nd lost by nine wickets at Irby after being asked to bat first and reaching 158-8, Steve Knowles 31. Alex Kelly 26 notoujt.
The home side lost an early wicket but then cantered to victory in the 29th over.
Appleton enter a crucial phase of their season on the back of a victory away at Aston. With the Lyons Lane side due to play both the top two sides in the division in the next three weeks in a make-or-break promotion battle, a win was key to get momentum going. Appleton had a partnership of 131 between Ali Shariff, 83, and Liam Mannion, 41, to thank for a first innings total of 189.
Three wickets apiece for James Darbyshire and Amir Aslam saw the home side bundled out for 153 in the 40th over.
Appleton 2nd secured a draw against Oxton at Lyons Lane. Oxton ran up a total of 251-6 from their 45 overs thanks to some dropped catches. Stubborn resistance saw Appleton bat out their overs to reach a draw on 143-8. Reza Zaidi top scored with 35.
Third-placed Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge were on the wrong end of a 123-run thumping from Appleton 3rd. Danny Oliver blasted 85 and 16-year-old Toby White hit a brutal unbeaten 63 from just 24 balls as Appleton ran up an imposing 279-8. Four wickets for Harry Sygrove saw the visitors crumble to 156 all out.
Appleton 4th were thrashed in a local derby at Warrington 3rd. The home side declared on 240-4 after just 38 overs. Appleton’s batsman were unable to resist and they succumbed to 56 all out.
Stretton won by one wicket after a tense finish in their game against visiting Oakmere.
The visitors were held to 215-9, M Rafiq taking 3-36.
Opener Mohammed Yousuf hit 57 when Stretton replied but it was left to the lower order to seal the victory with the last pair contributing 20 runs.
Glazebury elected to bat first against Audlem at Hurst Lane and reached 177, largely thanks to 41 from Jordan Carroll and 27 from Simon Green.
The visitors fell short by 11 runs with Sam Stanier taking 4-46 and Hakeem Dahou 4-30.
Glazebury 2nd suffered a mauling at Kingsley where the home side declared on a massive 287-2 and Glazebury were humbled for 67, despite a fighting 42 from skipper Wayne Hargreaves.