Grappers win as the cricket season finally gets under way

THE weather relented and cricket finally got under way in the Warrington area.
And in the Vivio Cheshire County League, Grappenhall got off to a winning start with a five wicket win at Sale.
The visitors batted first and were bowled out for 162, Sam Guest making a welcome return to Grappers to take 4-29. Albert Pennington took 2-31 and Adam Roylance 2-29.
Grappenhall’s reply was spearheaded by Peter Barnes who hit a fine 61 before being run out while Adam Green hit 27 as the side coast to 163-5.
Grappers’ 2nd XI also got an early taste of victory when they hit 189-5, Ross Arrowsmith 58 not out and Josuah Hayes 31 at Upton. The home side had no answer to the bowling of Jack Critchley, 3-14 and Ian Hall, 2-13 and crashed out for 77.
Grappenhall 3rd made it a clean sweep with an eight win over Nantwich after dismissing them for 98.
In the UK Fast Cheshire League, Appleton held on for a draw at Bredbury St Marks after the home side batted first and totalled 180. Harry Sygrove was the pick of Appleton’s bowlers with 5-27.
But the batting was disappointing apart from Adam Pearson’s 52 out of a total of `108 and Appleton’s last pair were at the wicket when time ran out.
Appleton 2nd suffered a heavy defeat at Lyons Lane when visitors Christleton amassed 238-5. Andy Warham was the most successful bowler with 2-55. Appleton were tumbled out for 56 with Mark Sands top scoring with 15.
Lymm Oughtrington Park’s bowler toiled to little avail as Cheadle Hulme hit 202-4. Lymm replied with 48 with Ben Phillips top scoring with 48 and Jack Hughes hitting 23.
Glazebury  soon found themselves struggling at Woodford as the home side hit 197. Troi Sequeira took 3-50 and Simon Green 2-19. The batsmen suffered even worse, however as Glazebury were dismissed for a meagre 58 with only Frank Pedigrew, 14 and Kyle Keeble reaching double figures.
Warrington 3rd inflicted a heavy defeat on Woodford, batting first and hammering 248-8, M Alam 58 and Abdul Javed 48. Woodford were rolled over for just 50, Waqas tasking 4-10.
But Warrington 4th were not so lucky at Caldy being bowled out for 68, Prakash Mohan hitting 20, after the home side had totalled  107.