WARRINGTON’S title chase continued this week with another fine win – which was nullified by a similar victory for rivals Lindow.
The result keeps them in second place in the Vivio Cheshire County League division two and it seems to be a case of waiting for who slips up first.
Warrington’s six wicket win over Tattenhall at Walton Lea was emphatic enough – but the question has to be asked: Where would they have been without Jonathan Fletcher?
He took 3-23 as the visitors crashed out for 83, sharing the spoils with Rob Batey, 3-17 and Brad McIntosh, 3-24.
Then when Warrington batted, Fletcher hit a flamboyant 73 not out with no other batsman reaching double figures in a winning total of 86-4.
Warrington 2nd were beaten by seven wickets after being put in first at Bowdon.
Isaac Webster top scored with 34 as Warrington were dismissed for a disappointing 130.
Fourth change bowler Raj Soni took all three wickets for 18 runs as the home side strolled to victory.
A much improved performance by Grappenhall’s batsmen took them within sight of a welcome victory, but in the end did little to ease relegation worries.
Electing to field first against Nantwich at Broad Lane, Grappers saw the visitors hit a gettable 217-odha6, skipper Adam Roylance taking 5-48.
In reply, Grappenhall started steadily, Roylance hitting 30 and everyone chipping in with a few.
But they fell behind the run-rate and even some big hitting from Ollie Knight, 38 not out and Ben Bodha, 39, was not enough to catch up.
At the close they were 201-7 – giving them just six points from the match.
Grappenhall 2nd lost at Nantwich, crashing out for 83, Dave Tully 30 and then taking just one of the home side’s wickets.
In the UKFast Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park suffered a mauling at the hands of Cheadle Hulme at Oughtrington Lane.
The visitors hammered 237-4 declared in 41 overs.
Lymm were rolled over for 67 in just 21 overs.
A fine innings of 70 not out from steven Gladwin helped Lymm 2nd to reach 140-7 at Woodford.
But he got little support from the rest of the batting line-up and the total was never going to be enough and the home side hit off the runs for the loss of four wickets.
Tony Spaven took 2-23.
Appleton came agonisingly close to their first win of the season but lost with just two balls to spare at Bredbury St Marks.
A half-century for Ian MacAuley helped the visitors post 174-6. But despite five wickets for Amir Aslam, Bredbury squeaked home with two wickets to spare thanks to 63 from Chris Wood.
Appleton 2nd slipped toward the relegation zone after losing at home to league leaders Chester Boughton Hall.
Some accurate bowling from Chester meant that Appleton could only post 144-7 from their 45 overs. Half centuries from Joe Killoran and Reg Wyatt helped Chester reach their target for the loss of just wickets.
Appleton 3rd went down by three wickets at Mellor. They were bowled out for a meagre 115 and Mellor reached their target with seven wickets to spare.
Put in first, Appleton 4th were tumbled out for 66 by Warrington at The Grange, with no batsman reaching double figures.
Warrington took just 13 overs to reach their target for the loss of four wickets.
Glazebury were comprehensively beaten at Trafford Metrovics, who batted first and totalled 233.
Hakeem Dahou took 5-71 and Sam Stanier 3-58.
Batting did not seem so easy when Glazebury’s turn came and the side was dismissed for 94, despite Jules Moore’s unbeaten rearguard effort of 25. Dahou chipped in with 22.
Glazebury 2nd hosted Knutsford who batted first and hit 180-7, Frank Pedigrew taking 2-37, Nirpal Bansel 2-47 and Matthew Brunt 2-31. Glazebury replied with 128, Alex Wort top scoring with 41 and Phil McCue hitting 22.
WOMEN’S CRICKET
APPLETON picked up 25 points from a three wicket win over Chester Boughton Hall to stay top of the Cheshire Women’s League.
The victory keeps them in contention for their first title since 2015, although their nearest rivals have games in hand.
Chester batted first and were all out for 75, Sam Fowler taking 4-13, Abbey Gore 3-3 and Becky Jones 2-10.
Appleton had a few scares but reached their target with seven wickets down, largely thanks to 26 from Tilly Kesteven
