Grappers’ fighting spirit earns a draw

GRAPPENHALL showed fighting spirit to earn a draw against a strong Neston side at Broad Lane after the visitors had set an imposing target.
Neston posted a massive 293-5 – highest score in the Vivio Cheshire County League premier division on the day – as the Grappers attack was put to the sword.
Aussie Olly Knight took 2-58 but no other bowler took more than one wicket.
After tea, Grappenhall posted the second highest score of the day but never looked in the hunt but did well to reach 214-7.
Opener Albert Pennington carried his bat for a fine 80 not out and Ben Bodha contributed a useful 42.
Knight showed something of what he is capable of with a swift 24, including two sixes, before being run out.
In the end, Grappers manage to acquire six points from a game dominated by the batsmen – and showed they will not roll-over in the face of an intimidating target.
Grappenhall 2nd lost at Neston with several overs to spare after posting a below par 175-7.
Ste Rooney hit 49 and Jack Critchley 46 but the home side knocked off the runs for the loss of six wickets and with eight overs to spare.
Critchley rounded off a good all-round performance with three wickets.
Grappers 3rd lost a disappointing T20 cup match at Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge on a dubious wicket. Batting first, they could only post 92, with the wicket to blame for a number of dismissals.
In reply the home side scored slowly but picked up late in the innings to win at the death.
Warrington enjoyed a b ig win over Northwich at Walton Lea.
Batting first, they declared on 285-5, Jonathan Fletcher hitting an unbeaten 155 and Rohan Luthra 54.
Northwich were tumbled out for 134, with five Warrington bowlers claiming two wickets each.
Warrington 2nd suffered a 10-wicket defeat at Timperley.
Raj Soni hit 100 as Warrington took first knock, but could only reach 186-9. Timperley cantered to 187 without loss.
In the UKFast Cheshire League Lymm Oughtrington Park lost by two runs in a low-scoring match at home to Runcorn.
The visitors batted first and were dismissed for 107, Sam Pendlebury taking 4-20. Lymm fell short by two runs with Blake Munilla top scoring with 27.
Lymm 2nd posted a challenging 196-9 at Runcorn, Steve Knowles hammering 85 and Jake Hughes 42. But the home side dug in and earned a draw at 180-7.
Appleton were bowled out for 138 at Langley, Matthias Partridge hitting 40 but no other batsman make much of an impression. Langley cruised to their target in 25 overs for the loss of four wickets.
A classy 109 rom 111 balls from Rick Clarke helped Appleton 2nd to a formidable 214-6 against Neston at Lyons Lane Ian Mason, 48 and Richard Buck, 43 not out, gave valuable support.
Aamir Rashid took 5-48, including three wickets in four balls but this was not enough for Appleton to force a victory. The visitors hung on at 137-7 to snatch a draw.
Appleton 3rd secured their first win of the season with a crushing victory at Mossley. A swashbuckling 88 not out from Alex Pickering led Appleton to 200-6 from their 40 overs. Mossley never looked likely to chase the total and could only muster 69, Oliver Cross taking 4-17 and Michael Cumberland 3-17.
Appleton 4th were crushed by Holmes Chapel at the Grange Club. The visitors racked up 220-4 from 40 overs. Appleton’s reply never got going and they were eventually bowled out for 55.
Stretton hit 139 to defeat visitors Woodford, who were all out for 117.
Glazebury went down by two wickets at Westminister Park despite a good all-round performance from Sam Stanier, who top-scored with 34 and took 4-31.
The visitors totalled a meagre 107 but Westminster Park struggled for runs too and lost eight wickets reaching 109.
A below strength Glazebury 2nd did well to dismiss Winnington Park for 41 at Hurst Lane, David Nicholson taking 5-5. But when they batted, they collapsed to a humiliating 26 all out, with no batsman reaching double figures.