GRAPPENHALL turned in a much improved performance at table-toppers Chester Boughton Hall – but eventually went down to another defeat.
This left them second-to-bottom in the Vivio Cheshire County League premier division still with only one win under their belt.
Skipper Adam Roylance asked the home side to bat first and pacemen Olly Knight, 2-54 and Arran McCabe, 2-45, were soon among the wickets.
At 56-5 Chester looked in disarray.
But the later batsmen steadied the ship and the side eventually reached 230-7 from 55 overs – a barely believable total earlier in the innings.
Grappers lost an early wicket but Roylance was in fine form, batting superbly in difficult conditions.
Unfortunately wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end, with four players getting into their teens but then falling.
Roylance stepped up the pace to try and chase a much needed victory, hitting two sixes along the way. But he eventually fell for a fantastic 95 and Grappers were all out for 189 with four overs to spare.
Ironically they picked up just five points from the game – two less than they would have got had the game been abandoned to the weather which wiped out many matches across Cheshire.
Grappenhall 2nd and 3rd XI games were both cancelled.
Warrington’s game at Alvanley was also washed out meaning they stayed in second place in the division two title chase but lost ground on leaders Lindow who managed to play and win.
The Warrington 2nd XI game at Walton Lea was played but ended in a draw.
Visitors Macclesfield batted first and hit 199-7 in 50 overs.
Isaac Webster took 4-37 and Phil Whelan 3-50.
Warrington went for the runs but lost overs to the weather.
Sean Day hit 38, Webster 46 and Paolo Manfredi 43 but at the close the side was on 156-6.
In the UKFast Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park’s 1st and 2nd XI games were washed out, as were those of Glazebury.
But Appleton secured a draw away at Winnington Park. In a game reduced to 60 overs by rain, Sam Barnes hit 96 for the home side as they posted 188-5 declared from just 25 overs. In response, Matthias Paltridge scored 59 and received support from Amir Aslam, 24 not out, as Appleton batted out their overs to finish on 134-8.
Appleton 2nd also drew with Timperley who set Appleton 255 to win from 38 overs. Appleton were content to settle for the draw, Ed Sygrove hitting 47 as the site finished on 139-4.
There was a surprise win for Appleton 3rd who beat table-topping Heaton Mersey Village by 80 runs at The Grange.
A classy 110 from Nathanael Paltridge and 49 from Mark Sands helped Appleton post 204-8 then Jess Lewis took 5-36 as HMV were bundled out for just 124.
Stretton drew with Irby, batting first and totalling 114. Irby were 105-5 when the weather ended the game.
Warrington 4th entertained Europa Exiles and went down heavily after the visitors batted first and hit 186-6. The home side replied with 92.
WOMEN’S CRICKET
APPLETON have gone top of the Cheshire Women’s Cricket League division one after a 45 run victory over Chester Boughton Hall.
Georgia Heath hit 38 as Appleton batted first and reach 131-9 in 40 overs. Laurie Sheridan offered good support with 22.
Chester were bowled out for 86, Becky Jones taking 3-2, Sami Fowler 2-11 and Annie Rashid 2-14.
The win puts Appleton 30 points clear at the top of the table, but they have played more matches than any of their rivals.
